arXiv subjects

P. L. Kuhns

Publications and source records attributed to P. L. Kuhns.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Absence of static orbital current magnetism at the apical oxygen site in HgBa$_2$CuO$_{4+δ}$ from NMR

The simple structure of HgBa$_2$CuO$_{4+δ}$ (Hg1201) is ideal among cuprates for study of the pseudogap phase as a broken symmetry state. We have performed $^{17}$O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on an underdoped Hg1201 crystal with transition temperature of 74 K to look for circulating orbital currents proposed theoretically and inferred from neutron scattering. The narrow spectra preclude static local fields in the pseudogap phase at the apical site, suggesting that the moments observed with neutrons are fluctuating. The NMR frequency shifts are consistent with a dipolar field from the Cu$^{+2}$ site.

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arXiv2012

Magnetic field dependence of spin-lattice relaxation in the s$\pm$ state of Ba$_{0.67}$K$_{0.33}$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$

The spatially averaged density of states, , of an unconventional d-wave superconductor is magnetic field dependent, proportional to $H^{1/2}$, owing to the Doppler shift of quasiparticle excitations in a background of vortex supercurrents[1,2]. This phenomenon, called the Volovik effect, has been predicted to exist for a sign changing $s\pm$ state [3], although it is absent in a single band s-wave superconductor. Consequently, we expect there to be Doppler contributions to the NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate, $1/T_1 \propto $, for an $s\pm$ state which will depend on magnetic field. We have measured the $^{75}$As $1/T_1$ in a high-quality, single crystal of Ba$_{0.67}$K$_{0.33}$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ over a wide range of field up to 28 T. Our spatially resolved measurements show that indeed there are Doppler contributions to $1/T_1$ which increase closer to the vortex core, with a spatial average proportional to $H^2$, inconsistent with recent theory [4]

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arXiv2011

$^{75}$As NMR of Ba(Fe$_{0.93}$Co$_{0.07}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ in High Magnetic Field

The superconducting state of an optimally doped single crystal of Ba(Fe$_{0.93}$Co$_{0.07}$)$_2$As$_2$ was investigated by $^{75}$As NMR in high magnetic fields from 6.4 T to 28 T. It was found that the Knight shift is least affected by vortex supercurrents in high magnetic fields, $H>11$ T, revealing slow, possibly higher order than linear, increase with temperature at $T \lesssim 0.5 \, T_c$, with $T_c \approx 23 \, K$. This is consistent with the extended s-wave state with $A_{1g}$ symmetry but the precise details of the gap structure are harder to resolve. Measurements of the NMR spin-spin relaxation time, $T_2$, indicate a strong indirect exchange interaction at all temperatures. Below the superconducting transition temperature vortex dynamics lead to an anomalous dip in $T_2$ at the vortex freezing transition from which we obtain the vortex phase diagram up to $H = 28$ T.

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arXiv2011

Electronic inhomogeneity in a Kondo lattice

Inhomogeneous electronic states resulting from entangled spin, charge, and lattice degrees of freedom are hallmarks of strongly correlated electron materials; such behavior has been observed in many classes of d-electron materials, including the high-Tc copper-oxide superconductors, manganites, and most recently the iron-pnictide superconductors. The complexity generated by competing phases in these materials constitutes a considerable theoretical challenge-one that still defies a complete description. Here, we report a new manifestation of electronic inhomogeneity in a strongly correlated f-electron system, using CeCoIn5 as an example. A thermodynamic analysis of its superconductivity, combined with nuclear quadrupole resonance measurements, shows that nonmagnetic impurities (Y, La, Yb, Th, Hg and Sn) locally suppress unconventional superconductivity, generating an inhomogeneous electronic "Swiss cheese" due to disrupted periodicity of the Kondo lattice. Our analysis may be generalized to include related systems, suggesting that electronic inhomogeneity should be considered broadly in Kondo lattice materials.

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arXiv2010

Spin-Density Wave near the Vortex Cores of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$

Competition with magnetism is at the heart of high temperature superconductivity, most intensely felt near a vortex core. To investigate vortex magnetism we have developed a spatially resolved probe using nuclear magnetic resonance. Our spin-lattice-relaxation spectroscopy is spatially resolved both within a conduction plane as well as from one plane to another. With this approach we have found a spin-density wave associated with the vortex core in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$, which is expected from scanning tunneling microscope observations of "checkerboard" patterns in the local density of electronic states.[1] We determine both the spin-modulation amplitude and decay length from the vortex core in fields up to H=30 T.

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arXiv2010

Charge Induced Vortex Lattice Instability

It has been predicted that superconducting vortices should be electrically charged and that this effect is particularly enhanced for, high temperature superconductors.\cite{kho95,bla96} Hall effect\cite{hag91} and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments\cite{kum01} suggest the existence of vortex charging, but the effects are small and the interpretation controversial. Here we show that the Abrikosov vortex lattice, characteristic of the mixed state of superconductors, will become unstable at sufficiently high magnetic field if there is charge trapped on the vortex core. Our NMR measurements of the magnetic fields generated by vortices in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+y}$ single crystals\cite{che07} provide evidence for an electrostatically driven vortex lattice reconstruction with the magnitude of charge on each vortex pancake of $\mathbf{\sim 2}$x$\mathbf{10^{-3} e}$, depending on doping, in line with theoretical estimates.\cite{kho95,kna05}

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arXiv2010

Dynamics of a Heisenberg spin chain in the quantum critical regime: NMR experiment versus effective field theory

A comprehensive comparison between the magnetic field- and temperature-dependent low frequency spin dynamics in the antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain (AFHC) system copper pyrazine dinitrate, probed via the 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation rate 1/T1, and the field theoretical approach in the Luttinger liquid (LL) regime has been performed. We have found a very good agreement between the experiment and theory in the investigated temperature and field range. Our results demonstrate how strongly the quantum critical point affects the spin dynamics of Heisenberg spin chain compounds.

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arXiv2010

Distinct high-T transitions in underdoped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$

In contrast to the simultaneous structural and magnetic first order phase transition $T_{0}$ previously reported, our detailed investigation on an underdoped Ba$_{0.84}$K$_{0.16}$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystal unambiguously revealed that the transitions are not concomitant. The tetragonal ($τ$: I4/mmm) - orthorhombic ($\vartheta$: Fmmm) structural transition occurs at $T_{S}\simeq$ 110 K, followed by an adjacent antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at $T_{N}\simeq$ 102 K. Hysteresis and coexistence of the $τ$ and $\vartheta$ phases over a finite temperature range observed in our NMR experiments confirm the first order character of the structural transition and provide evidence that both $T_{S}$ and $T_{N}$ are strongly correlated. Our data also show that superconductivity (SC) develops in the $\vartheta$ phase below $T_{c}$ = 20 K and coexists with long range AFM. This new observation, $T_{S}\neq T_{N}$, firmly establishes another similarity between the hole-doped BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ via K substitution and the electron-doped iron-arsenide superconductors.

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arXiv2010

$^{77}$Se and $^{63}$Cu NMR studies of the electronic correlations in Cu$_x$TiSe$_2$ ($x=0.05, 0.07$)

We report $^{77}$Se and $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigation on the charge-density-wave (CDW) superconductor Cu$_x$TiSe$_2$ ($x=0.05$ and 0.07). At high magnetic fields where superconductivity is suppressed, the temperature dependence of $^{77}$Se and $^{63}$Cu spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/T_{1}$ follow a linear relation. The slope of $^{77}1/T_{1}$ vs \emph{T} increases with the Cu doping. This can be described by a modified Korringa relation which suggests the significance of electronic correlations and the Se 4\emph{p}- and Ti 3\emph{d}-band contribution to the density of states at the Fermi level in the studied compounds.

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arXiv2010

Low frequency spin dynamics in the quantum magnet copper pyrazine dinitrate

The S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain exhibits a magnetic field driven quantum critical point. We study the low frequency spin dynamics in copper pyrazine dinitrate (CuPzN), a realization of this model system of quantum magnetism, by means of $^{13}$C-NMR spectroscopy. Measurements of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $T_1^{-1}$ in the vicinity of the saturation field are compared with quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the dynamic structure factor. Both show a strong divergence of low energy excitations at temperatures in the quantum regime. The analysis of the anisotropic $T_1^{-1}$-rates and frequency shifts allows one to disentangle the contributions from transverse and longitudinal spin fluctuations for a selective study and to determine the transfer of delocalized spin moments from copper to the neighboring nitrogen atoms.

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arXiv2009

Two inequivalent sublattices and orbital ordering in MnV2O4 studied by 51V NMR

We report detailed 51V NMR spectra in a single crystal of MnV2O4. The vanadium spectrum reveals two peaks in the orbitally ordered state, which arise from different internal hyperfine fields at two different V sublattices. These internal fields evolve smoothly with externally applied field, and show no change in structure that would suggest a change of the orbital ordering. The result is consistent with the orbital ordering model recently proposed by Sarkar et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 216405 (2009)] in which the same orbital that is a mixture of t_2g orbitals rotates by about 45$^\circ$ alternately within and between orbital chains in the I4_1/a tetragonal space group.

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arXiv2009

Quantum critical dynamics of a S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain studied by 13C-NMR spectroscopy

We present a 13C-NMR study of the magnetic field driven transition to complete polarization of the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain system copper pyrazine dinitrate Cu(C_4H_4N_2)(NO_3)_2 (CuPzN). The static local magnetization as well as the low-frequency spin dynamics, probed via the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1, were explored from the low to the high field limit and at temperatures from the quantum regime (k_B T << J) up to the classical regime (k_B T >> J). The experimental data show very good agreement with quantum Monte Carlo calculations over the complete range of parameters investigated. Close to the critical field, as derived from static experiments, a pronounced maximum in 1/T_1 is found which we interpret as the finite-temperature manifestation of a diverging density of zero-energy magnetic excitations at the field-driven quantum critical point.

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arXiv2009

Critical properties of the S=1 spin dimer compound Ba3Mn2O8

Ba3Mn2O8 is a hexagonally coordinated Mn5+ S=1 spin dimer system with small uniaxial single-ion anisotropy. 135,137Ba NMR spectroscopy is used to establish the lower critical field Hc1 of distinct field-induced phases for H parallel to c,H perpendicular to c, and measure the longitudinal (Ml) and transverse (Mt) magnetizations in the vicinity of the quantum critical point (QCP). Ml_parallel (T, Hc1), Ml_perpendicular (T, Hc1) are reproduced by solving a low-energy model for a dilute gas of interacting bosons. Ml_parallel(T goes to 0, H = Hc1) (Ml_perpendicular(T goes to 0, H = Hc1)) follows the expectation for a BEC (Ising-like) QCP.

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arXiv2008

Dynamical Behavior of Spins in the Rare-Earth Kagomé Pr$_3$Ga$_5$SiO$_{14}$

We report on the use of $^{69,71}$Ga nuclear magnetic resonance to probe spin dynamics in the rare-earth kagomé system Pr$_3$Ga$_5$SiO$_{14}$. We find that the spin-lattice relaxation rate $^{69}1/T_1$ exhibits a maximum around 30 K, below which the Pr$^{3+}$ spin correlation time $τ$ shows novel field-dependent behavior consistent with a field-dependent gap in the excitation spectrum. The spin-spin relaxation rate $^{69}1/T_{2}$ exhibits a peak at a lower temperature (10 K) below which field-dependent power-law behavior close to $T^{2}$ is observed. These results point to field-induced formation of nanoscale magnetic clusters consistent with recent neutron scattering measurements.

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arXiv2008

$^{77}$Se NMR investigation of the field-induced spin-density-wave transitions in (TMTSF)$_2$ClO$_4$

Complementary $^{77}$Se nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrical transport have been used to correlate the spin density dynamics with the subphases of the field-induced spin density wave (FISDW) ground state in \tmt. We find that the peaks in the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T$_1$ appear within the metal-FISDW phase boundary and/or at first-order subphase transitions. In the quantum limit above 25 T, the NMR data gives an insight into the FISDW electronic structure.

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arXiv2007

Spin Freezing and Melting in Na$_{0.5}$CoO$_{2}$

This paper has been withdrawn. The sample was a mixed phase.

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arXiv2007

AC susceptibility and $^{51}$V NMR study of MnV$_2$O$_4$

We report $^{51}$V zero-field NMR of manganese vanadate spinel of MnV$_2$O$_4$, together with both ac and dc magnetization measurements. The field and temperature dependence of ac susceptibilities show a reentrant-spin-glass-like behavior below the ferrimagnetic(FEM) ordering temperature. The zero-field NMR spectrum consists of multiple lines ranging from 240 MHz to 320 MHz. Its temperature dependence reveals that the ground state is given by the simultaneous formation of a long-range FEM order and a short-range order component. We attribute the spin-glass-like anomalies to freezing and fluctuations of the short-range ordered state caused by the competition between spin and orbital ordering of the V site.

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arXiv2007

Two-dimensional Vortices in Superconductors

Superconductors have two key characteristics. They expel magnetic field and they conduct electrical current with zero resistance. However, both properties are compromised in high magnetic fields which can penetrate the material and create a mixed state of quantized vortices. The vortices move in response to an electrical current dissipating energy which destroys the zero resistance state\cite{And64}. One of the central problems for applications of high temperature superconductivity is the stabilization of vortices to ensure zero electrical resistance. We find that vortices in the anisotropic superconductor Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ (Bi-2212) have a phase transition from a liquid state, which is inherently unstable, to a two-dimensional vortex solid. We show that at high field the transition temperature is independent of magnetic field, as was predicted theoretically for the melting of an ideal two-dimensional vortex lattice\cite{Fis80,Gla91}. Our results indicate that the stable solid phase can be reached at any field as may be necessary for applications involving superconducting magnets\cite{Has04,Sca04,COHMAG}. The vortex solid is disordered, as suggested by previous studies at lower fields\cite{Lee93,Cub93}. But its evolution with increasing magnetic field displays unexpected threshold behavior that needs further investigation.

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