arXiv subjects

S. Giri

Publications and source records attributed to S. Giri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Energy Calibration and Performance of HPGe Detectors in the LEGEND-200 Experiment

This paper describes the energy scale procedures and germanium detectors performance in the LEGEND-200 experiment, a critical component for the first unblinding in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay. We detail the digital signal processing pipeline, the methodologies for peak-shape modeling and energy calibration procedures utilizing weekly $^{228}$Th source calibration runs. The optimized energy reconstruction achieves a combined average resolution of $(2.47 \pm 0.08)$~keV at $Q_{\beta\beta} = 2039$~keV. The weekly variation of calibration peak positions are below 0.05~keV for energies up to 2614.5~keV, showing a high stability of the energy scale over time and across detectors. Furthermore, systematic corrections effectively address residual non-linearities and energy bias in the region of interest.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

First Results on the Search for Lepton Number Violating Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay with the LEGEND-200 Experiment

The LEGEND collaboration is searching for neutrinoless double beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay by operating high-purity germanium detectors enriched in $^{76}$Ge in a low-background liquid argon environment. Building on key technological innovations from GERDA and the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, LEGEND-200 has performed a first $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay search based on 61.0 kg yr of data. Over half of this exposure comes from our highest performing detectors, including newly developed inverted-coaxial detectors, and is characterized by an estimated background level of $0.5^{+0.3}_{-0.2}$ cts/(keV kg yr) in the $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay signal region. A combined analysis of data from GERDA, the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, and LEGEND-200, characterized by a 90% confidence level exclusion sensitivity of $2.8 \times 10^{26}$ yr on the half-life of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay, reveals no evidence for a signal and sets a new observed lower limit at $T^{0\nu}_{1/2} > 1.9 \times 10^{26}$ yr (90% confidence level). Assuming the decay is mediated by Majorana neutrinos, this corresponds to an upper limit on the effective Majorana mass in the range $m_{\beta\beta} < 75-200$ meV, depending on the adopted nuclear matrix element.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Successive ferroelectric orders and magnetoelectric coupling without long-range magnetic order in highly frustrated pyrochlore compounds: Sm$_2$Ti$_{2-x}$V$_x$O$_7$

Sm$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$, a member of rare-earth titanate pyrochlores, exhibits dipolar-octupolar antiferromagnetism below $T_N$ = 0.35 K. We observed two ferroelectric transitions at 182 ($T_{FE1}$) and 52 K ($T_{FE2}$), significantly higher than $T_N$ for Sm$_2$Ti$_{2-x}$V$_x$O$_7$ ($x$ = 0, 0.1). Although the ferroelectric transition temperatures remain unchanged, the polarization value decreases considerably with V doping. A structural transition to a polar $R3m$ rhombohedral phase from the cubic $Fd\bar{3}m$ structure occurs at $T_{FE1}$, involving a distortion in the pyochlore lattice. Remarkably, significant linear magnetoelectric coupling is observed in both compounds, with further enhancement of magnetoelectric coupling due to magnetic V doping. The existence of magnetoelectric coupling without long-range magnetic order in a frustrated pyrochlore system could enable the tailoring of magnetoelectric coupling properties, which can be further fine-tuned through V doping. The emergence of ferroelectricity in a frustrated magnetic system introduces an intriguing aspect to these compounds and paves the way for developing ferroelectric order driven by the alleviation of magnetic frustration in pyrochlore systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

A Compact Dication Source for Ba$^{2+}$ Tagging and Heavy Metal Ion Sensor Development

We present a tunable metal ion beam that delivers controllable ion currents in the picoamp range for testing of dry-phase ion sensors. Ion beams are formed by sequential atomic evaporation and single or multiple electron impact ionization, followed by acceleration into a sensing region. Controllability of the ionic charge state is achieved through tuning of electrode potentials that influence the retention time in the ionization region. Barium, lead, and cobalt samples have been used to test the system, with ion currents identified and quantified using a quadrupole mass analyzer. Realization of a clean $\mathrm{Ba^{2+}}$ ion beam within a bench-top system represents an important technical advance toward the development and characterization of barium tagging systems for neutrinoless double beta decay searches in xenon gas. This system also provides a testbed for investigation of novel ion sensing methodologies for environmental assay applications, with dication beams of Pb$^{2+}$ and Cd$^{2+}$ also demonstrated for this purpose.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Unconventional topological phase transition from semimetal to insulator in SnBi2Te4: Role of anomalous thermal expansion

We propose SnBi2Te4 to be a novel candidate material exhibiting temperature (T) mediated transitions between rich topological phases. From a combined theoretical and experimental studies, we find that SnBi2Te4 goes from a low-T topological semimetallic phase to a high-T (room temperature) topological insulating phase via an intermediate topological metallic phase. Single crystals of SnBi2Te4 are characterized by various experimental probes including Synchrotron based X-ray diffraction, magnetoresistance, Hall effect, Seebeck coefficient, magnetization and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). X-ray diffraction data confirms an anomalous thermal expansion of the unit cell volume below 100 K, which significantly affects the bulk band structure and hence the transport properties, as confirmed by our density functional theory calculations. Simulated surface states at 15 K agree fairly well with our ARPES data and are found to be robust with varying T. This indirectly supports the experimentally observed paramagnetic singularity in the entire T-range. The proposed coexistence of rich topological phases is a rare occurrence, yet paves a fertile ground to tune various topological phases in a material driven by structural distortion.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Effect of magnetic phase coexistence on spin-phonon coupling and magnetoelectric effect in polycrystalline Sm0.5Y0.5Fe0.58Mn0.42O3

The polycrystalline co-doped samples of Sm0.5Y0.5Fe0.58Mn0.42O3 were prepared by solid-state reaction route and its various physical properties with their correlations have been investigated. The dc magnetization measurements on the sample revealed a weak ferromagnetic (WFM) transition at TN=361 K that is followed by an incomplete spin reorientation (SR) transition at TSR1= 348 K. A first order magnetic transition (FOMT) around 292 K completes the spin reorientation transition and the material enters into a nearly collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) state for T < 260 K. The compound exhibited magnetization reversal below the compensation temperature (Tcomp) = 92 K at low measured field of 100 Oe. At further low temperature below 71 K, the compound also exhibited Zero-field cooled memory effects confirming a reentrant spinglass state formation. Robust magnetodielectric (MD) magnetoelectric coupling has been established in the present material through field dependent dielectric and resistivity measurements. True ferroelectric transition with a considerable value of saturation polarization (= 0.06 micro C/cm2 at 15 K) have been found in the specimen below TFE= 108 K. We observed an intense spin-phonon coupling (SPC) across TSR and TN from the temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy and is responsible for the intrinsic magnetoelectric effect. This SPC also stabilizes the ferroelectric state below TFE in the material. The delicate interplay of the lattice (Phonons), charge and spins governs the observed features in the investigated physical properties of the material that makes the specimen a promising multifunctional material.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Bulk Rashba spin splitting and Dirac surface state in $p$-type (Bi$_{0.9}$Sb$_{0.1})_2$Se$_3$ single crystal

We report bulk Rashba spin splitting (RSS) and associated Dirac surface state in (Bi$_{0.9}$Sb$_{0.1})_2$Se$_3$, exhibiting dominant $p$-type conductivity. We argue from the synchrotron diffraction studies that origin of the bulk RSS is due to a structural transition to a non-centrosymmetric $R3m$ phase below $\sim$ 30 K. The Shubnikov-de Haas Van (SdH) oscillations observed in the magnetoresistance curves at low temperature and the Landau level fan diagram, as obtained from these oscillations, confirm the presence of nontrivial Dirac surface state. The magnetization data at low temperature exhibit substantial orbital magnetization consistent with the bulk RSS. The existance of both the bulk RSS and Dirac surface states are confirmed by first principles density functional theory calculations. Coexistence of orbital magnetism, bulk RSS, and Dirac surface state is unique for $p$-type (Bi$_{0.9}$Sb$_{0.1})_2$Se$_3$, making it an ideal candidate for spintronic applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Natural ferroelectric order near ambient temperature in HoFeO3: A member of RFeO3 orthoferrites

Current scenario in multiferroics demands a breakthrough discovery of promising materials after BiFeO3. Recently, the controversial discovery of room temperature ferroelectricity (FE) in SmFeO3 [PRL 107, 117201 (2011); 113, 217203 (2014)] inspires the investigation of HoFeO3. Here, we report a natural ferroelectric order below 210 K (TFE) along c-axis with reasonably large polarization and low-field strong magnetoelectric coupling. Synchrotron and neutron diffraction results confirm that a shift of O atoms along c-axis of polar Pbn21 structure causes FE in HoFeO3. The exchange striction mechanism is suggested to elucidate the ferroelectric order. The results create a renewed attention for searching promising candidates with a natural ferroelectric order and higher TFE in the rest of the RFeO3 series.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Magnetic and electric behaviors of DyMn$_2$O$_5$: effect of hole doping

DyMn$_2$O$_5$ is an intriguing multiferroic material showing multiple magnetic, electric and structural transitions. We present here the systematic study on the effect of Sr doping at the Dy site of DyMn$_2$O$_5$ through magnetic and dielectric measurements. Doping of divalent Sr at the Dy site is expected to enhance the Mn$^{4+}$:Mn$^{3+}$ ratio and it will also dilute the Dy site. Our study indicates large enhancement in the magnetic anomaly observed close to 43 K, which we believe to be related to the increased ferromagnetic correlations on Sr doping. Gradual increase in coercive field at 3 K with the Sr doping and decrease in bond length of adjacent Mn$^{4+}$ ions further support the enhancement of ferromagnetic corelations in the system. The parent sample shows a large magnetocaloric effect around 12 K, the magnitude of which found to decrease with increasing Sr concentration. The doping also enhances the anomaly at around 28 K observed in the dielectric permittivity versus temperature data, and this anomaly was earlier claimed to be associated with the spin reorientation as well as a simultaneous transition from one ferroelectric state to other. The electric orderings observed below 25 K are found to be susceptible to the applied magnetic field, and supports the view of Ratcliff II {\it et al.}(Phys. Rev. B {\bf 72}, 060407(R)(2005)) of concomitant changes in the magnetic structure associated with the multiple electric transitions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

High-temperature ferroelectric order and magnetic field-cooled effect driven magnetoelectric coupling in R2BaCuO5 (R= Er, Dy, Sm)

The high-temperature ferroelectric order and a remarkable magnetoelectric effect driven by the magnetic field cooling are reported in R2BaCuO5 (R = Er, Dy, Sm) series. The ferroelectric (FE) orders are observed at much higher temperatures than their magnetic orders for all three members. The value of FE Curie temperature (TFE) is considerably high as ~ 235 K with the polarization value (P) of ~ 1410 μC/m2 for a 4 kV/cm poling field in case of Er2BaCuO5, whereas the values of TFE and P are also promising as ~ 232 K and ~ 992 μC/m2 for Dy2BaCuO5, and ~ 184 K and ~ 980 μC/m2 for Sm2BaCuO5. The synchrotron diffraction studies of Dy2BaCuO5 confirm a structural transition at TFE to a polar Pna21 structure, which correlates the FE order. An unusual magnetoelectric coupling is observed below the R order for Er and Dy compounds and below the Cu order for Sm compound, when the pyroelectric current is recorded only with the magnetic field both in heating and cooling cycles i.e. typical magnetic field cooled effect. The magnetic field cooled effect driven emergence of polarization is ferroelectric in nature, as it reverses due to the opposite poling field. The unexplored R2BaCuO5 series attracts the community for large TFE, high P value, and strange magnetoelectric consequences.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Ferroelectric order associated with an ordered occupancy at the octahedral site of the inverse spinel structure of multiferroic NiFe2O4

We report a ferroelectric order at ~ 98 K for NiFe2O4, which carries an inverse spinel structure with a centrosymmetric Fd3m structure at room temperature. The value of spontaneous electric polarization is considerably high as ~ 0.29 μC/cm2 for 5 kV/cm poling field. The electric polarization decreases considerably (~ 17 %) around liquid nitrogen temperature upon application of 50 kOe field, proposing a significant magnetoelectric coupling. The synchrotron diffraction studies confirm a structural transition at ~ 98 K to a noncentrosymmetric structure of P4122 space group. The occurrence of polar order is associated with an ordered occupancy of Ni and Fe atoms at the octahedral sites of the P4122 structure, instead of random occupancies at the octahedral site of the inverse spinel structure. The results propose that NiFe2O4 is a new type-II multiferroic material.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Unconventional transport behavior in the Quaternary Heusler compounds CoFeTiSn and CoFeVGa

We report here the electrical transport and magnetic properties of the newly synthesized quaternary Heusler compound CoFeTiSn and CoFeVGa. We observe a striking change in the electronic transport properties of CoFeTiSn as the system undergoes the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition. While the sample shows an activated semiconducting behaviour in the paramagnetic phase, it turns abruptly to a metallic phase with the onset of ferromagnetic transition. We have compared the system with other Hesuler compounds showing similar anomaly in transport, and it appears that CoFeTiSn has much similarities with the Fe$_2$VAl compound having pseudogap in the paramagnetic phase. In sharp contrast, CoFeVGa shows a predominantly semiconducting behaviour down to 90 K, below which it shows a window of metallic region. Both the compositions show negative Seebeck coefficient varying linearly with temperature. The value of the Seebeck coefficient of CoFeTiSn is comparable to that of many Heusler alloys identified as potential thermoelectric materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Observation of non-Fermi liquid behavior in hole doped Eu2Ir2O7

The Weyl semimetallic compound Eu2Ir2O7 along with its hole doped derivatives (which is achieved by substituting trivalent Eu by divalent Sr) are investigated through transport, magnetic and calorimetric studies. The metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature is found to get substantially reduced with hole doping and for 10% Sr doping the composition is metallic down to temperature as low as 5 K. These doped compounds are found to violate the Mott-Ioffe-Regel condition for minimum electrical conductivity and show distinct signature of non-Fermi liquid behavior at low temperature. The MIT in the doped compounds does not correlate with the magnetic transition point and Anderson-Mott type disorder induced localization may be attributed to the ground state insulating phase. The observed non-Fermi liquid behavior can be understood on the basis of disorder induced distribution of spin orbit coupling parameter which is markedly different in case of Ir4+ and Ir5+ ions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Black holes as bubbles of AdS

In this paper we propose that bubbles of AdS within Minkowski spacetime, stabilized at a finite radius by stiff matter and an electromagnetic gas, can be an alternative endpoint of gravitational collapse. The bubbles are horizonless with a size up to 12.5% larger than their Schwarzschild radius depending on their charge. We argue that they are stable against small perturbations, and have thermodynamical properties similar to those of real black holes. We provide a realization of the bubbles within string theory that relies on a specific brane intersection giving rise to a shell carrying dissolved charges from lower dimensional D-branes as well as a gas of open strings. We also note that our construction provides a new way of understanding the entropy of Reissner-Nordström black holes in the extremal limit.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Giant Positive Magnetoresistance and field-induced metal insulator transition in Cr2NiGa

We report here the magneto-transport properties of the newly synthesized Heusler compound Cr2NiGa which crystallizes in a disordered cubic B2 structure belonging to Pm-3m space group. The sample is found to be paramagnetic down to 2 K with metallic character. On application of magnetic field, a significantly large increase in resistivity is observed which corresponds to magnetoresistance as high as 112% at 150 kOe of field at the lowest temperature. Most remarkably, the sample shows negative temperature coefficient of resistivity below about 50 K under the application of field gretare than or equal to 80 kOe, signifying a field-induced metal to `insulating' transition. The observed magnetoresistance follows Kohler's rule below 20 K indicating the validity of the semiclassical model of electronic transport in metal with a single relaxation time. A multi-band model for electronic transport, originally proposed for semimetals, is found to be appropriate to describe the magneto-transport behavior of the sample.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Multiple first order transitions and associated room temperature magneto-functionality in Ni2.048Mn1.312In0.64

Present work reports on the observation of multiple magnetic transitions in a Ni-excess ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nominal composition Ni$_{2.048}$Mn$_{1.312}$In$_{0.64}$. The magnetization data reveal two distinct thermal hystereses associated with two different phase transitions at different temperature regions. The high temperature magnetic hysteresis is due to the martensitic phase transition whereas the low temperature hysteresis occurs around the magnetic anomaly signifying the transition from a paramagnetic-like state to the ferromagetic ground state within the martensite. Clear thermal hysteresis along with the sign of the curvatures of Arrott plot curves confirm the {\it first order nature of both the transitions}. In addition, the studied alloy is found to be functionally rich with the observation of large magnetoresistance (-45\% and -4\% at 80 kOe) and magnetocaloric effect (+16.7 J.kg$^{-1}$.K$^{-1}$ and -2.25 J.kg$^{-1}$.K$^{-1}$ at 50 kOe) around these two hysteresis regions (300 K and 195 K respectively).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Exchange striction induced giant ferroelectric polarization in copper based multiferroic material $α$-Cu$_2$V$_2$O$_7$

We report $α$-Cu$_2$V$_2$O$_7$ to be an improper multiferroic with the simultaneous development of electric polarization and magnetization below $T_C$ = 35 K. The observed spontaneous polarization of magnitude 0.55 $μ$Ccm$^{-2}$ is highest among the copper based improper multiferroic materials. Our study demonstrates sizable amount of magneto-electric coupling below $T_C$ even with a low magnetic field. The theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) indicate magnetism in $α$-Cu$_2$V$_2$O$_7$ is a consequence of {\em ferro-orbital} ordering driven by polar lattice distortion due to the unique pyramidal (CuO$_{5}$) environment of Cu. The spin orbit coupling (SOC) further stabilize orbital ordering and is crucial for magnetism. The calculations indicate that the origin of the giant ferroelectric polarization is primarily due to the symmetric exchange-striction mechanism and is corroborated by temperature dependent X-ray studies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Two dimensional magnetic correlation in the unconventional corrugated layered oxides (Ba,Sr)$_4$Mn$_3$O$_{10}$

Both Ba$_4$Mn$_3$O$_{10}$ and Sr$_4$Mn$_3$O$_{10}$ crystallize in an orthorhombic crystal structure consisting of corrugated layers containing Mn$_3$O$_{12}$ polydedra. The thermal variation of magnetic susceptibility of the compositions consists of a broad hump like feature indicating the presence of low dimensional magnetic correlation. We have systematically investigated the magnetic data of these compounds and found that the experimental results match quite well with the two dimensional Heisenberg model of spin-spin interaction. The two dimensional nature of the magnetic spin-spin interaction is supported by the low temperature heat capacity data of Ba$_4$Mn$_3$O$_{10}$. Interestingly, both the samples show dielectric anomaly near the magnetic ordering temperature indicating multiferroic behavior.

cond-mat.str-el↗