arXiv subjects

N. Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to N. Harrison.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Irreversible dynamics of the phase boundary in U(Ru0.9)Rh0.04)2Si2 and implications for ordering

We report measurements and analysis of the specific heat and magnetocaloric effect at the phase boundary into the single magnetic field-induced phase (phase II) of U(Ru{0.96}Rh{0.04})2Si2, which yield striking similarities to the valence transition of Yb{1-x}YxInCu4. To explain these similarities, we propose a bootstrap mechanism by which a structural distortion causes an electric quadrupolar order parameter within phase II to become coupled to the 5f-electron hybridization, giving rise to a valence change at the transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Characteristic BEC scaling close to Quantum Critical Point in BaCuSi2O6

We report an experimental determination of the phase boundary between a quantum paramagnetic state and the proposed spin Bose-Einstein condensate of triplons in the spin gap compound BaCuSi2O6. The ordering temperature is related to the proximity to a quantum critical point at the lower critical magnetic field H_c1 = 23.52 +/- 0.03T by a power law parameterized by critical exponent nu. We obtain an experimental estimate of nu = 0.63 +/- 0.03 which is in good agreement with the mean field prediction of nu = 2/3 for the 3D XY model, used to describe the Bose condensation of a 3D dilute interacting Bose gas.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Gamma5 quasiparticles and avoided quantum criticality in U(Ru,Rh)2Si2

We discuss recent specific heat data in high magnetic fields on URu2Si2 and 4% Rh-doped URu2Si2 as well as previously published de Haas-van Alphen data at lower magnetic fields in pure URu2Si2; both of which are consistent with quasiparticle bands formed from a hybridization between 5f-electron Gamma5 doublets and regular conduction electrons. The system exhibits itinerant electron metamagnetism that gives rise to a putative quantum critical point at \~ 34 -37 T (depending on the % of Rh) that is subsequently unstable to field-induced phases

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Bose-Einstein Condensation of S = 1 Ni spin degrees of freedom in NiCl2-4SC(NH2)2

It has recently been suggested that the organic compound NiCl$_2$-4SC(NH$_2$)$_2$ (DTN) exhibits Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC) of the Ni spin degrees of freedom for fields applied along the tetragonal c-axis. The Ni spins exhibit 3D XY-type antiferromagnetic order above a field-induced quantum critical point at $H_{c1} \sim 2$ T. The Ni spin fluid can be characterized as a system of effective bosons with a hard-core repulsive interaction in which the antiferromagnetic state corresponds to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of the phase coherent $S = 1$ Ni spin system. We have investigated the the high-field phase diagram and the occurrence of BEC in DTN by means of specific heat and magnetocaloric effect measurements to dilution refrigerator temperatures. Our results indicate that a key prediction of BEC is satisfied; the magnetic field-temperature quantum phase transition line $H_c(T)-H_{c1} \propto T^α$ approaches a power-law at low temperatures, with an exponent $α= 1.47 \pm 0.06$ at the quantum critical point, consistent with the BEC theory prediction of $α= 1.5$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Recent high-magnetic-field studies of unusual groundstates in quasi-two-dimensional crystalline organic metals and superconductors

After a brief introduction to crystalline organic superconductors and metals, we shall describe two recently-observed exotic phases that occur only in high magnetic fields. The first involves measurements of the non-linear electrical resistance of single crystals of the charge-density-wave (CDW) system (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ in static magnetic fields of up to 45 T and temperatures as low as 25 mK. The presence of a fully gapped CDW state with typical CDW electrodynamics at fields higher that the Pauli paramagnetic limit of 34 T suggests the existence of a modulated CDW phase analogous to the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. Secondly, measurements of the Hall potential of single crystals of $α$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$KHg(SCN)$_4$, made using a variant of the Corbino geometry in quasistatic magnetic fields, show persistent current effects that are similar to those observed in conventional superconductors. The longevity of the currents, large Hall angle, flux quantization and confinement of the reactive component of the Hall potential to the edge of the sample are all consistent with the realization of a new state of matter in CDW systems with significant orbital quantization effects in strong magnetic fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Quantum critical 5f-electrons avoid singularities in U(Ru,Rh)2Si2

We present specific heat measurements of 4% Rh-doped U(Ru,Rh)2Si2 at magnetic fields above the proposed metamagnetic transition field Hm~34 T, revealing striking similarities to the isotructural Ce analog CeRu2Si2, suggesting that strongly renormalized hybridized band models apply equally well to both systems. The vanishing bandwidths as H --> Hm are consistent with a putative quantum critical point close to Hm. The existence of a phase transition into an ordered phase in the vicinity of Hm for 4% Rh-doped U(Ru,Rh)2Si2, but not for CeRu2Si2, is consistent with a stronger super-exchange in the case of the U 5-f system, with irreversible processes at the transition revealing a strong coupling of the 5f orbitals to the lattice, most suggestive of orbital or electric quadrupolar order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Catastrophic Fermi surface reconstruction in the shape-memory alloy AuZn

AuZn undergoes a shape-memory transition at 67 K. The de Haas van Alphen effect persists to 100 K enabling the observation of a change in the quantum oscillation spectrum indicative of a catastrophic Fermi surface reconstruction at the transition. Coexistence of both Fermi surfaces at low temperatures is suggestive of an intrinsic phase separation in the bulk of the material. In addition, a Dingle analysis reveals a sharp change in the scattering mechanism at a threshold cyclotron radius, which we suggest to be related to the underlying microstructure that drives the shape-memory effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Fermi Surface as a Driver for the Shape-Memory Effect in AuZn

Martensites are materials that undergo diffusionless, solid-state transitions. The martensitic transition yields properties that depend on the history of the material and may allow it to recover its previous shape after plastic deformation. This is known as the shape-memory effect (SME). We have succeeded in identifying the primary electronic mechanism responsible for the martensitic transition in the shape-memory alloy AuZn by using Fermi-surface measurements (de Haas-van Alphen oscillations) and band-structure calculations. This strongly suggests that electronic band structure is an important consideration in the design of future SME alloys.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

Resistivity and magnetization of U(Ru$_{1-x}$Rh$_x$)$_2$Si$_2$, $x=$ 2, 2.5, 3 and 4 % in magnetic fields of up to 45 T

This posting contains raw data used for extracting features of the phase diagram and quantum criticality versus magnetic field $B$, temperature $T$ and Rh-doping $x$ that will soon appear in Physical Review Letters, 2004. All of the raw resistivity data is shown while only a selection of the magnetization data is shown for which a sample-out background subtraction was made.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

High Field behavior of the Spin Gap compound Sr$_2$Cu(BO$_3$)$_2$

We report magnetization and heat capacity measurements of single crystal samples of the spin gap compound Sr$_2$Cu(BO$_3$)$_2$. Low-field data show that the material has a singlet ground state comprising dimers with intradimer coupling J = 100 K. High field data reveal the role of weak interdimer coupling. For fields that are large compared to the spin gap, triplet excitations are observed for significantly smaller fields than predicted for isolated dimers, indicating that weak inter-dimer coupling leads to triplet delocalization. High field magnetization behavior at low temperatures suggests additional cooperative effects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Landau quantization effects in the charge-density-wave system (Per)$_2M$(mnt)$_2$ (where $M=$Au and Pt)

A finite transfer integral $t_a$ orthogonal to the conducting chains of a highly one-dimensional metal gives rise to empty and filled bands that simulate an indirect-gap semiconductor upon formation of a commensurate charge-density-wave (CDW). In contrast to semiconductors such as Ge and Si with bandgaps $\sim 1$ eV, the CDW system possesses an indirect gap with a greatly reduced energy scale, enabling moderate laboratory magnetic fields to have a major effect. The consequent variation of the thermodynamic gap with magnetic field due to Zeeman splitting and Landau quantization enables the electronic bandstructure parameters (transfer integrals, Fermi velocity) to be determined accurately. These parameters reveal the orbital quantization limit to be reached at $\sim 20$ T in (Per)$_2M$(mnt)$_2$ salts, making them highly unlikely candidates for a recently-proposed cascade of field-induced charge-density wave states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Magnetic Field-Induced Condensation of Triplons in Han Purple Pigment BaCuSi$_2$O$_6$

Besides being an ancient pigment, BaCuSi$_2$O$_6$ is a quasi-2D magnetic insulator with a gapped spin dimer ground state. The application of strong magnetic fields closes this gap creating a gas of bosonic spin triplet excitations called triplons. The topology of the spin lattice makes BaCuSi$_2$O$_6$ an ideal candidate for studying the Bose-Einstein condensation of triplons as a function of the external magnetic field, which acts as a chemical potential. In agreement with quantum Monte Carlo numerical simulations, we observe a distinct lambda-anomaly in the specific heat together with a maximum in the magnetic susceptibility upon cooling down to liquid Helium temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Absence of field-induced charge-density wave states in (Per)$_2$Pt(mnt)$_2$

Graf {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 93} 076406 (2004)] recently attributed features in the magnetic-field-dependent longitudinal resistance of (Per)$_2$Pt(mnt)$_2$ to a cascade of field-induced charge-density waves (FICDWs). Here we show that a quantitative magnetotransport analysis reveals orbital quantization to be absent, disproving the presence of FICDWs. Our data show that the conduction is instead dominated by the sliding CDW collective mode at low temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Magnetization, thermoelectric, and pressure studies of the magnetic field-induced metal to insulator transition in tau phase organic conductors

We have investigated the magnetic field-induced metal-insulator transition in the tau-phase organic conductors, which occurs in fields above 35 T, and below 14 K, by magnetization, thermoelectric, and pressure dependent transport methods. Our results show that the transition is a bulk thermodynamic process where a magnetic field-dependent gap opens upon entry into the insulating state. We argue that the transition involves a magnetic field-induced change in the electronic structure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Suppression of the $γ-α$ structural phase transition in $Ce_{0.8} La_{0.1} Th_{0.1}$ by large magnetic fields

The $γ-α$ transition in Ce$_{0.8}$La$_{0.1}$Th$_{0.1}$ is measured as a function of applied magnetic field using both resistivity and magnetization. The $γ- α$ transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic field, reaching zero temperature at around 56 T. The magnetic-field dependence of the transition temperature may be fitted using a model that invokes the field and temperature dependence of the entropy of the $4f$-electron moments of the $γ$ phase, suggesting that the volume collapse in Ce and its alloys is primarily driven by entropic considerations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Dimensionality of superconductivity in the infinite-layer high-temperature cuprate Sr0.9M0.1CuO2 (M = La, Gd)

The high magnetic field phase diagram of the electron-doped infinite layer high-temperature superconducting (high-T_c) compound Sr_{0.9}La_{0.1}CuO_2 was probed by means of penetration depth and magnetization measurements in pulsed fields to 60 T. An anisotropy ratio of 8 was detected for the upper critical fields with H parallel (H_{c2}^{ab}) and perpendicular (H_{c2}^c) to the CuO_2 planes, with H_{c2}^{ab} extrapolating to near the Pauli paramagnetic limit of 160 T. The longer superconducting coherence length than the lattice constant along the c-axis indicates that the orbital degrees of freedom of the pairing wavefunction are three dimensional. By contrast, low-field magnetization and specific heat measurements of Sr_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}CuO_2 indicate a coexistence of bulk s-wave superconductivity with large moment Gd paramagnetism close to the CuO_2 planes, suggesting a strong confinement of the spin degrees of freedom of the Cooper pair to the CuO_2 planes. The region between H_{c2}^{ab} and the irreversibility line in the magnetization, H_{irr}^{ab}, is anomalously large for an electron-doped high-T_c cuprate, suggesting the existence of additional quantum fluctuations perhaps due to a competing spin-density wave order.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

High Field Specific Heat of 2D Quantum Spin System SrCu2(BO3)2

We report measurements of the specific heat of the quantum spin liquid system SrCu2(BO3)2 in continuous magnetic fields H of up to 33 T. The specific heat vs temperature at zero field shows an anomaly at 8 K, marking the opening of a gap in the spin singlet excitations. At fields H~12 T, we clearly see a second anomaly that shifts to lower temperatures as H is increased. We attribute its origin to single triplet excitations of the singlet dimer ground state. This conclusion is supported by calculations of the specific heat, which reproduce the experimental data, made using the finite temperature Lanczos method to solve a Shastry-Sutherland Hamiltonian including nearest and next-nearest neighbor Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions. The parameters used to fit the data are the exchange constants J = 74 K and J'/J = 0.62, and the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya coupling constants |D|=6.1K, and $|D'|=2.2K.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Charge-density Waves Survive the Pauli Paramagnetic Limit

Measurements of the resistance of single crystals of (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ have been made at magnetic fields $B$ of up to 45 T, exceeding the Pauli paramagnetic limit of $B_{\rm P}\approx 37$ T. The continued presence of non-linear charge-density wave electrodynamics at $B \geq 37$ T unambiguously establishes the survival of the charge-density wave state above the Pauli paramagnetic limit, and the likely emergence of an inhomogeneous phase analogous to that anticipated to occur in superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗