arXiv subjects

R. S. Patel

Publications and source records attributed to R. S. Patel.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Barium Hexaferrite Thin Films as a Scalable Magnetic-Insulator Platform for Proximity-Engineered Spintronics

Rare-earth iron garnets, such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and thulium iron garnet (TmIG), are the benchmark magnetic insulators for spintronic and magnonic devices, but achieving usable perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in these materials typically relies on substrate strain- engineering, requiring careful lattice-matching and specific growth conditions that constrain ma- terial accessibility. Here we establish sputter grown barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19, BaM) as a magnetic-insulator alternative with strong intrinsic perpendicular anisotropy, requiring no strain engineering. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirm stoichiometric films with atomically smooth surfaces, while first-principles calculations corroborate a robust ferrimagnetic ground state. The films exhibit square out-of-plane hysteresis with a coercive field of nearly 0.1 T. Unlike rare-earth garnets, the perpendicular anisotropy in BaM is intrinsic to its magnetoplumbite crystal structure, arising independent of highly ordered strain. Interfaced with Pt and with exfoliated BiSbTeSe2 (BSTS), BaM induces proximity induced anomalous Hall trans- port, confirming efficient interfacial exchange coupling, while the BSTS/BaM heterostructure shows an additional Hall contribution suggestive of non-collinear interfacial spin textures. These results position BaM thin films as a scalable magnetic-insulator platform for spintronic and topological heterostructure devices beyond the constraints of garnet chemistry.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Scalable Bayesian data curation for next-generation radio experiments

Next-generation radio telescopes produce data volumes that preclude manual quality assessment, yet data curation remains essential for science. We present a general, fully automatic Bayesian anomaly-detection method for radio science experiments in which data curation is performed inside the inference: a latent anomaly indicator is marginalised in the likelihood rather than converted into an external pre-flag. Implemented in JAX with GPU-accelerated inference, the pipeline assigns probabilistic data-curation scores without prior knowledge and requires no thresholds, manual inspection, or subjective decisions. We demonstrate the method on the Radio Experiment for the Analysis of Cosmic Hydrogen (REACH), applying it to 4655 observations (one year of REACH data). The pipeline assigns scores across time and frequency, enabling identification of the optimal observations to carry forward into scientific inference while reducing the risk that contaminated data bias the result. In doing so, it simultaneously recovers weather-driven systematics, instrument-component drifts, and narrow-band radio-frequency interference, while revealing complex dependencies between data quality and environmental or instrumental state that would be difficult to uncover by manual curation alone. This turns data curation from an external manual bottleneck into autonomous, inference-level infrastructure for the Square Kilometre Array era.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

Nitrogen-Vacancy-Mediated Magnetism in Sputtered GdN Thin Films

Among rare-earth nitrides (RENs), gadolinium nitride (GdN) stands out as a promising material for spintronics owing to its distinctive combination of semiconducting behavior, strong exchange interactions, and intrinsically soft ferromagnetism. Its relatively high Curie temperature and large saturation magnetization make it an attractive candidate for device concepts such as non-volatile memory elements and spin-based transistors, motivating efforts toward low-cost, uniform, and compositionally controlled thin-film growth. In this work, we deposited GdN thin films on SiO2/AlN substrates using DC sputtering under reactive nitridation conditions, with thicknesses varying from 18 to 180 nm, and systematically investigated their structural and magnetic properties. The films exhibit soft ferromagnetic ordering, characterized by a coercive field of approximately 200 Oe and a Curie temperature (Tc) near 70 K. Structural analysis reveals lattice distortions and local strain associated with nitrogen-vacancy defects, whose concentration varies with film thickness. Our theoretical studies establish a direct correlation between the observed Raman modes of the GdN lattice and the reduced magnetization induced by nitrogen vacancies. These vacancies give rise to defect-mediated ferromagnetism, leading to a measurable enhancement of Tc from 68 K to 82 K across the studied thickness range. The observed magnetic behavior is well described by the bound magnetic polaron (BMP) model, confirming that nitrogen vacancies are key contributors to ferromagnetic ordering while preserving the soft-magnetic character intrinsic to GdN. This study underscores the pivotal role of defect engineering in optimizing GdN thin films for spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Observation of Raman anomaly and characterization of magnetic phases in van der Waals ferromagnet Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnet Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ has garnered significant interest due to its high Curie temperature (T$_C$), large saturation magnetization, and complex magnetic behavior arising, in part, from multiple inequivalent iron sites and vacancies. While several aspects of its complex magnetic and structural characteristics have been examined through careful experiments and first principles studies, much of it remains debatable. In this study, we present one of the first comprehensive temperature-dependent Raman spectrum for bulk Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ and in the process reveal an interesting peak shift anomaly at 150 K. We discuss the possible relationship of this Raman anomaly with the anomalous lattice expansion reported earlier for this material at around 110 K. The impact of the anomalous lattice expansion on the magnetic anisotropy in this van der Waals material is also revealed by an isothermal magnetization analysis. These findings will prove crucial for the use of Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ in high-performance spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Radiometer Calibration using Machine Learning

Radiometers are crucial instruments in radio astronomy, forming the primary component of nearly all radio telescopes. They measure the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, converting this radiation into electrical signals. A radiometer's primary components are an antenna and a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), which is the core of the ``receiver'' chain. Instrumental effects introduced by the receiver are typically corrected or removed during calibration. However, impedance mismatches between the antenna and receiver can introduce unwanted signal reflections and distortions. Traditional calibration methods, such as Dicke switching, alternate the receiver input between the antenna and a well-characterised reference source to mitigate errors by comparison. Recent advances in Machine Learning (ML) offer promising alternatives. Neural networks, which are trained using known signal sources, provide a powerful means to model and calibrate complex systems where traditional analytical approaches struggle. These methods are especially relevant for detecting the faint sky-averaged 21-cm signal from atomic hydrogen at high redshifts. This is one of the main challenges in observational Cosmology today. Here, for the first time, we introduce and test a machine learning-based calibration framework capable of achieving the precision required for radiometric experiments aiming to detect the 21-cm line.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Electron transport in magnetic tunnel junctions -- a theoretical study of lattice and continuum models

Magnetic tunnel junctions comprising of an insulator sandwiched between two ferromagnetic films are the simplest spintronic devices. Theoretically, these can be modeled by a metallic Hamiltonian in both the lattice and the continuum with an addition of Zeeman field. We calculate conductance at arbitrary orientations of the easy axes of the two ferromagnets. When mapped, the lattice and the continuum models show a discrepancy in conductance in the limit of a large Zeeman field. We resolve the discrepancy by modeling the continuum theory in an appropriate way.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Resistivity Anomaly in Weyl Semimetal candidate Molybdenum Telluride

The Weyl semi-metal candidate MoTe$_{2}$ is expected to exhibit a range of exotic electronic transport properties. It exhibits a structural phase transition near room temperature that is evident in the thermal hysteresis in resistivity and thermopower (Seebeck coefficient) as well as large spin-orbit interaction. Here, we also document a resistivity anomaly of up to 13% in the temperature window between 25 and 50 K, which is found to be strongly anisotropic. Based on the experimental data in conjunction with density functional theory calculations, we conjecture that the anomaly can be related to the presence of defects in the system. These findings open opportunities for further investigations and understanding of the transport behavior in these newly discovered semi-metallic layered systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

A study of electron and thermal transport in layered Titanium disulphide single crystals

We present a detailed study of thermal and electrical transport behavior of single crystal Titanium disulphide flakes, which belongs to the two dimensional, transition metal dichalcogenide class of materials. In-plane Seebeck effect measurements revealed a typical metal-like linear temperature dependence in the range of 85 - 285 K. Electrical transport measurements with in-plane current geometry exhibited a nearly T^2 dependence of resistivity in the range of 10 - 300 K. However, transport measurements along the out-of-plane current geometry showed a transition in temperature dependence of resistivity from T^2 to T^5 beyond 200 K. Interestingly, Au ion-irradiated TiS2 samples showed a similar T 5 dependence of resistivity beyond 200 K, even in the current-in-plane geometry. Micro- Raman measurements were performed to study the phonon modes in both pristine and ion-irradiated TiS2 crystals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Spin Hall Effect measurement techniques

Spin Hall Effect is relativistic quantum mechanical effect which enables non-magnetic materials show magnetic phenomena without the application of a magnetic field. With spin Hall Effect, one can realize spintronics devices operating purely on electrical and optical means and eliminate the use of ferromagnets which have associated fringe fields. In this review article, we present the experimental developments and current understanding of the Spin Hall Effect Phenomena. We discuss various experiments as well as device structures which employ electrical, optical or both techniques to demonstrate Spin Hall effect. Most of these devices structures are simple and easy to fabricate in modern laboratories.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Electron and thermal transport via Variable Range Hopping in MoSe$_{2}$ single crystals

Bulk single crystal Molybdenum diselenide has been studied for its electronic and thermal transport properties. We perform resistivity measurements with current in-plane (CIP) and current perpendicular to plane (CPP) as a function of temperature. The CIP measurements exhibit metal to semiconductor transition at $\simeq 31$ K. In the semiconducting phase ($T > 31$ K), the transport is best explained by variable range hopping (VRH) model. Large magnitude of resistivity in CPP mode indicates strong structural anisotropy. Seebeck coefficient as a function of temperature measured in the range $90 - 300$ K, also agrees well with the VRH model. The room temperature Seebeck coefficient is found to be $139$ $μ$V/K. VRH fittings of the resistivity and Seebeck coefficient data indicate high degree of localization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Tunnel Magnetoresistance with Atomically Thin Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride Barriers

The two-dimensional atomically thin insulator hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) constitutes a new paradigm in tunnel based devices. A large band gap along with its atomically flat nature without dangling bonds or interface trap states makes it an ideal candidate for tunnel spin transport in spintronic devices. Here, we demonstrate the tunneling of spin-polarized electrons through large area monolayer h-BN prepared by chemical vapor deposition in magnetic tunnel junctions. In ferromagnet/h-BN/ferromagnet heterostructures fabricated over a chip scale, we show tunnel magneto resistance at room temperature. Measurements at different bias voltages and on multiple devices with different ferromagnetic electrodes establish the spin polarized tunneling using h-BN barriers. These results open the way for integration of 2D monolayer insulating barriers in active spintronic devices and circuits operating at ambient temperature, and for further exploration of their properties and prospects.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Relaxation of thermo-remanent magnetization in Fe-Cr GMR multilayers

The time decay of the thermo-remanent magnetization (TRM) in Fe-Cr giant magnetoresistive (GMR) multilayers has been investigated. The magnetization in these multilayers relaxes as a function of time after being cooled in a small magnetic field of 100 Oe to a low temperature and then the magnetic field is switched off. Low-field ($<$ 500 Oe) magnetization studies of these samples have shown hysteresis. This spin-glass-like behavior may originate from structural imperfections at the interfaces and in the bulk. We find that the magnetization relaxation is logarithmic. Here the magnetic viscosity is found to increase first with increasing temperature, then it reaches a maximum around T$_g$, and then it decreases with increasing temperature. This behavior is different from that of conventional spin glasses where the logarithmic creep rate is observed to increase with temperature. Power law also gives good fits and it is better than the logarithmic fit at higher temperatures. The dynamical effects of these multilayers are related to the relaxation of thermally blocked superparamagnetic grains and magnetic domains in the film layers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Role of heterostructures and multiple magnetic phases in the low-field magnetization of Fe-Cr GMR multilayers

Zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) magnetization along with ac-magnetization vs. temperature and m-h loop measurements are reported for two series of ion-beam sputtered Fe-Cr GMR multilayers where the interface roughness is different. The exchange coupling between the Fe layers varies from ferromagnetic (FC) to antiferromagnetic (AF) depending upon the Cr layer thickness. The ZFC and FC magnetization data follow different curves below an irreversible temperature ($T_{irr}$). The FC data shows a $T^{3/2}$ thermal demagnetization behavior at lower temperatures with very small spin-wave stiffness constant (as compared with that of bulk Fe obtained from Bloch's $T^{3/2}$ law) but it goes as 1/T at higher temperatures (above ($T_{irr}$)). This behavior is interpreted in terms of the coexistence of spin-glass (SG)/superparamagnetic, FM and AF phases. ac-magnetization vs. temperature shows a peak at $T_g$. This peak shifts towards higher temperatures and its amplitude decreases with increasing frequency of the driving ac field.

cond-mat.other↗