arXiv subjects

S. M. Yusuf

Publications and source records attributed to S. M. Yusuf.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Revealing the nature of magnetic phases in the semi-Heusler alloy Cu0.85Ni0.15MnSb

We report the magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetotransport properties of the semi-Heusler alloy Cu0.85Ni0.15MnSb, which exhibits coexistence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) phases. A broad magnetic phase transition is evident from the temperature variations of magnetization, heat capacity, and isothermal magnetic entropy change. This is due to the presence of both AFM and FM phases at low temperatures. The variation of electrical resistivity with temperature shows three distinct regions of magnetic phases. The magnetoresistance (MR) results also show the presence of AFM and FM phases at temperatures below 45 K, and a FM phase at temperature above 45K. Though there is no signature of a spin-glass state at low temperatures, various results point towards the presence of short-range magnetic correlations at low temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Short-range Magnetic Ordering in the Geometrically Frustrated Layered Compound YBaCo4O7 with an Extended Kagomé Structure

Structural and magnetic properties of the geometrically frustrated layered compound YBaCo4O7 have been studied by magnetization and neutron diffraction. A layered type crystal structure, with alternating tetrahedral layers of Kagomé and triangular types, along the c axis (hexagonal symmetry, space group P63mc) has been found. The oxygen content of the present compound was determined by iodometric titration to be 7.00{\pm}0.01. Presence of a short-range antiferromagnetic ordering (below TN ~ 110 K) has been concluded from the appearance of an addition broad magnetic peak (at Q ~ 1.35 Å-1) in the neutron diffraction pattern. A staggered chiral type (\sqrt{3}\mult \sqrt{3} ) spin structure in the Kagomé layers has been found. Presence of a significant magneto-structural coupling is concluded from the changes in lattice parameters across the magnetic ordering temperature TN ~ 110 K.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Controlling structural distortion in the geometrically frustrated layered cobaltate YBaCo4O7+δ by Fe substitution and its role on magnetic correlations

Effects of Fe-substitution on the crystal structure and magnetic correlations of the geometrically frustrated antiferromagnets YBaCo4-xFexO7+δ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8) have been studied by neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and ac susceptibility. The compounds YBaCo4-xFexO7+δ have a special layered-type crystal structure with an alternating Kagomé (6c site) and triangular (2a site) layers along the c axis. Fe3+ ions are found to be substituted at both the crystallographic 2a and 6c sites of Co ions. Mössbauer results show a high spin state of Fe3+ ions in a tetrahedral coordination. A reduction in the distortion of the Kagomé lattice has been observed with the Fe-substitution. The correlation length of the short-range antiferromagnetic ordering decreases with the Fe-substitution. The sharpness of the magnetic transition also decreases with the Fe-substitution.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Understanding the multiple magnetic structures of the intermetallic compound NdMn1.4Co0.6Si2

Magnetic phases for the intermetallic compound NdMn1.4Co0.6Si2 have been investigated at various temperatures by dc magnetization, neutron diffraction and neutron depolarization. Our study shows multiple magnetic phase transitions with temperature (T) over 1.5-300 K. In agreement with dc-magnetization and neutron depolarization results, the temperature dependence of the neutron diffraction patterns shows five distinct regions with different magnetic phases. These temperature regions are (i) T >= 215 K, (ii) 215 K > T >= 50 K, (iii) 50 K > T >= 40 K, (iv) 40 K > T > 15 K, and (v) T =< 15 K. The corresponding magnetic structures are paramagnetic, commensurate collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM-I), incommensurate AFM (AFM-II), mixed ferromagnetic and AFM (FM+AFM-II), and incommensurate AFM (AFM-II), respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

One-Dimensional Dispersive Magnon Excitation in the Frustrated Spin-2 Chain System Ca3Co2O6

Using inelastic neutron scattering, we have observed a quasi-one-dimensional dispersive magnetic excitation in the frustrated triangular-lattice spin-2 chain oxide Ca3Co2O6. At the lowest temperature (T = 1.5 K), this magnon is characterized by a large zone-center spin gap of ~27 meV, which we attribute to the large single-ion anisotropy, and disperses along the chain direction with a bandwidth of ~3.5 meV. In the directions orthogonal to the chains, no measurable dispersion was found. With increasing temperature, the magnon dispersion shifts towards lower energies, yet persists up to at least 150 K, indicating that the ferromagnetic intrachain correlations survive up to 6 times higher temperatures than the long-range interchain antiferromagnetic order. The magnon dispersion can be well described within the predictions of linear spin-wave theory for a system of weakly coupled ferromagnetic chains with large single-ion anisotropy, enabling the direct quantitative determination of the magnetic exchange and anisotropy parameters.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Magnetocaloric effect and its implementation in critical behavior study of Mn4FeGe3-xSix intermetallic compounds

Magnetocaloric effect in Mn4FeGe3-xSix compounds has been studied by dc magnetization measurements. For the parent compound Mn4FeGe3, the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition temperature TC is above room temperature (320 K), which initially remains constant for small Si substitution at the Ge site and then decreases marginally with an increase in Si concentration. A large change in magnetic entropy at the TC, under a magnetic field variation of 50 kOe, with typical values of 5.9, 6.5, 5.9 and 4.4 J kg-1 K-1 for x = 0, 0.2, 0.6, and 1 samples, respectively, along with a broad operating temperature range and a negligible hysteresis make Mn4FeGe3-xSix series a promising candidate for magnetic refrigerant material around room temperature. Mn4FeGe3-xSix series is found to undergo a second-order magnetic phase transition. The field dependence of the magnetic entropy change has been brought out and implemented it to deduce the critical exponents. The critical behavior study shows that the magnetic interactions for x = 0 and 0.2 samples have two different behaviors below and above TC. Below TC, it follows the mean field theory with long-range magnetic interaction and above TC it follows the Heisenberg three-dimensional model with short-range or local magnetic interaction. The magnetic exchange interactions for the x = 0.6 and 1 samples follow the mean-field theory.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Quantum Phase Transition from a Spin-liquid State to a Spin-glass State in the Quasi-1D Spin-1 System Sr1-xCaxNi2V2O8

We report a quantum phase transition from a spin-liquid state to a spin-glass state in the quasi-one dimensional (1D) spin-1 system Sr1-xCaxNi2V2O8, induced by a small amount of Ca-substitution at Sr site. The ground state of the parent compound (x = 0) is found to be a spin-liquid type with a finite energy gap of 26.6 K between singlet ground state and triplet excited state. Both dc-magnetization and ac-susceptibility studies on the highest Ca-substituted compound (x = 0.05) indicate a spin-glass type magnetic ground state. With increasing Ca-concentration, the spin-glass ordering temperature increases from 4.5 K (for the x = 0.015 compound) to 6.25 K (for the x = 0.05 compound). The observed results are discussed in the light of the earlier experimental reports and the theoretical predictions for a quasi-1D spin-1 system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Crossover from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic ordering in semi-Heusler alloys Cu1-xNixMnSb with increasing Ni concentration

The magnetic properties and transition from an antiferromagnetic (AFM) to a ferromagnetic (FM) state in semi Heusler alloys Cu1-xNixMnSb, with x < 0.3 have been investigated in details by dc magnetization, neutron diffraction, and neutron depolarization. We observe that for x < 0.05, the system Cu1-xNixMnSb is mainly in the AFM state. In the region 0.05 \leq x \leq 0.2, with decrease in temperature, there is a transition from a paramagnetic to a FM state and below ~50 K both AFM and FM phases coexist. With an increase in Ni substitution, the FM phase grows at the expense of the AFM phase and for x > 0.2, the system fully transforms to the FM phase. Based on the results obtained, we have performed a quantitative analysis of both magnetic phases and propose a magnetic phase diagram for the Cu1-xNixMnSb series in the region x < 0.3. Our study gives a microscopic understanding of the observed crossover from the AFM to FM ordering in the studied semi Heusler alloys Cu1-xNixMnSb.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Effect of electron doping on the magnetic correlations in the bilayered brownmillerite compound Ca_{2.5-x}La_{x}Sr_{0.5}GaMn_{2}O_{8}: a neutron diffraction study

The effect of electron doping on the magnetic properties of the Brownmillerite-type bilayered compounds has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction in La substituted Ca2.5-xLaxSr0.5GaMn2O8 compounds (x = 0.05 and 0.1), in comparison with the undoped compound (x = 0). In all compounds, a long-range three dimensional collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure is found below the Néel temperature TN of respective compound, whereas, well above TN, three dimensional short-range magnetic ordering is observed. In the intermediate temperature range just above TN, a strong effect of electron doping (La substitution) on the magnetic correlations has been observed. Here, a short-range AFM correlation with possible dimensionality of three has been found for substituted compounds (x = 0.05 and 0.1) as compared to the reported two dimensional long-range AFM ordering in the parent compound. With increasing the electron doping, a decrease in TN is also observed. The short-range magnetic correlations set in over a large temperature range above TN. A magnetic phase diagram in the x-T plane is proposed from these results.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Magnetocaloric effect and critical behavior near the paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic phase transition temperature in TbCo2-xFex

Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in TbCo2-xFex has been studied by dc magnetization measurements.On substituting Fe in TbCo2, not only the magnetic transition temperature is tuned to room temperature, but also the operating temperature range for MCE is increased from 50 K for TbCo2 to 95 K for TbCo1.9Fe0.1. The maximum magnetic entropy change (-ΔSM) for TbCo1.9Fe0.1 is found to be 3.7 J kg-1 K-1 for a 5 T field change, making it a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature. The temperature dependent neutron diffraction study shows a structural phase transition (from cubic to rhombohedral phase with lowering of temperature) which is associated with the magnetic phase transition and these transitions broaden on Fe substitution. To investigate the nature of the paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic phase transition, we performed a critical exponent study. From the derived values of critical exponents, we conclude that TbCo2 belongs to the 3D Heisenberg class with short-range interaction, while on Fe substitution it tends towards mean-field with long-range interaction. The derived values of critical exponents represent the phenomenological universal curve for the field dependence of ΔSM, indicating that TbCo2 and TbCo1.9Fe0.1 belong to two different universality classes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Exchange Bias in BiFe_{0.8}Mn_{0.2}O_3 Nanoparticles with an Antiferromagnetic Core and a Diluted Antiferromagnetic Shell

We have observed conventional signature of exchange bias (EB), in form of shift in field-cooled (FC) hysteresis loop, and training effect, in BiFe0.8Mn0.2O3 nanoparticles. From neutron diffraction, thermoremanent magnetization and isothermoremanent magnetization measurements, the nanoparticles are found to be core-shell in nature, consisting of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) core, and a 2-dimensional diluted AFM (DAFF) shell with a net magnetization under a field. The analysis of the training effect data using the Binek's model shows that the observed loop shift arises entirely due to an interface exchange coupling between core and shell, and the intrinsic contribution of the DAFF shell to the total loop shift is zero. A significantly high value of EB field has been observed at room temperature. The present study is useful to understand the origin of EB in other DAFF-based systems as well.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Effect of size reduction on the ferromagnetism of the manganite La1-xCaxMnO3 (x = 0.33)

In this paper we report an investigation on the ferromagnetic state and the nature of ferromagnetic transition of nanoparticles of $\mathrm{La_{0.67}Ca_{0.33}MnO_3}$ using magnetic measurements and neutron diffraction. The investigation was made on nanoparticles with crystal size down to $15$ nm. The neutron data show that even down to a size of $15$ nm the nanoparticles show finite spontaneous magnetization ($M_S$) although the value is much reduced compared to the bulk sample. We observed a non-monotonic variation of the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature $T_C$ with size $d$ and found that $T_C$ initially enhances on size reduction, but for $d < 50$ nm it decreases again. The initial enhancement in $T_C$ was related to an increase in the bandwidth that occured due to a compaction of the Mn-O bond length and a straightening of the Mn-O-Mn bond angle, as determined form the neutron data. The size reduction also changes the nature of the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition from first order to second order with critical exponents approaching mean field values. This was explained as arising from a truncation of the coherence length by the finite sample size.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Defects induced ferromagnetism in Mn doped ZnO

Single phase Mn doped (2 at %) ZnO samples have been synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. Before the final sintering at 500 C, the mixed powders have been milled for different milling periods (6, 24, 48 and 96 hours). The grain sizes of the samples are very close to each other (~ 32 \pm 4 nm). However, the defective state of the samples is different from each other as manifested from the variation of magnetic properties and electrical resistivity with milling time. All the samples have been found to be ferromagnetic with clear hysteresis loops at room temperature. The maximum value for saturation magnetization (0.11 μ_B / Mn atom) was achieved for 96 hours milled sample. Electrical resistivity has been found to increase with increasing milling time. The most resistive sample bears the largest saturation magnetization. Variation of average positron lifetime with milling time bears a close similarity with that of the saturation magnetization. This indicates the key role played by open volume vacancy defects, presumably zinc vacancies near grain surfaces, in inducing ferromagnetic order in Mn doped ZnO. To attain optimum defect configuration favorable for ferromagnetism in this kind of samples proper choice of milling period and annealing conditions is required.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Influence of lattice distortion on the Curie temperature and spin-phonon coupling in LaMn$_{0.5}$Co$_{0.5}$O$_{3}$

Two distinct ferromagnetic phases of LaMn$_{0.5}$Co$_{0.5}$O$_{3}$ having monoclinic structure with distinct physical properties have been studied. The ferromagnetic ordering temperature $\textit{T}_{c}$ is found to be different for both the phases. The origin of such contrasting characteristics is assigned to the changes in the distance(s) and angle(s) between Mn - O - Co resulting from distortions observed from neutron diffraction studies. Investigations on the temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy provide evidence for such structural characteristics, which affects the exchange interaction. The difference in B-site ordering which is evident from the neutron diffraction is also responsible for the difference in $\textit{T}_{c}$. Raman scattering suggests the presence of spin-phonon coupling for both the phases around the $\textit{T}_{c}$. Electrical transport properties of both the phases have been investigated based on the lattice distortion.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Two- and three-dimensional magnetic correlations in the spin-1/2 square-lattice system Zn2VO(PO4)2

The magnetic correlations in the quasi-two dimensional spin-1/2 square-lattice system Zn2VO(PO4)2 have been investigated by neutron diffraction technique. A long-range antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering below 3.75 K (TN) has been observed with a reduced moment of 0.66(2) μB per V ion at 1.5 K. In a given ab plane, the AFM spin arrangement is Néel type and the AFM layers are coupled ferromagnetically along the c axis. Remarkably, we have observed a pure 2D short-range AFM ordering in the ab plane above TN. Interestingly, the coexistence of diffuse magnetic scattering and three dimensional antiferromagnetic Bragg peaks has been found below TN, indicating the presence of spin-waves as confirmed by our calculation using the linear spin-wave theory. The observed results are discussed in the light of existing theory for a two-dimensional spin-1/2 square-lattice system.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Ferromagnetic Clusters in the Brownmillerite Bilayered Compounds Ca2.5-xLaxSr0.5GaMn2O8: An Approach to Achieve Layered Spintronics Materials

We report the effect of La-substitution on the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Brownmillerite-like bilayered compounds Ca2.5-xLaxSr0.5GaMn2O8 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1) by using dc-magnetization, resistivity and magnetoresistance techniques. The Rietveld analysis of the room temperature x-ray diffraction patterns confirms no observable change of average crystal structure with the La-substitution. Both magnetic and magnetotransport properties are found to be very sensitive to the La-substitution. Interestingly, the La-substituted compounds show ferromagnetic-like behavior (due to the occurrence of a double exchange mechanism) whereas, the parent compound is an antiferromagnet (TN 150 K). All compounds show an insulating behavior, in the measured temperature range of 100 - 300 K, with an overall decrease in the resistivity with the substitution. A higher value of magnetoresistance has been successfully achieved by the La-substitution. We have proposed an electronic phase separation model, considering the formation of ferromagnetic clusters in the antiferromagnetic matrix, to interpret the observed magnetization and magnetotransport results for the La-substituted samples. The present study demonstrates an approach to achieve new functional materials, based on naturally occurring layered system like Ca2.5-xLaxSr0.5GaMn2O8, for possible spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Multiferroic properties of Bi0.9- xLa0.1ErxFeO3 ceramics

Structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Bi0.9-xLa0.1ErxFeO3 (BLEFOx) (x = 0.05, 0.07, 0.1) polycrystalline ceramics prepared by solid solution route were studied. A phase transition from rhombohedral phase to monoclinic phase was observed for x=0.05-0.1 in (BLEFOx). We have measured phase transition temperatures both alpha-beta transition and low-Temperature (low-T) transitions in doped BiFeO3. The transition peak near to 835C corresponds to alpha to beta-phase transition of BiFeO3 were measured using diffential thermal analysis (DTA). Dielectric measurements shows the low-T transitions in BLEFOx (x = 0.05-0.1). Relatively high remanent magnetization of 0.1178emu/gm at 8T was observed in BLEFOx (x = 0.1).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Enhanced grain surface effect on magnetic properties of nanometric La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 manganite : Evidence of surface spin freezing of manganite nanoparticles

We have investigated the effect of nanometric grain size on magnetic properties of single phase, nanocrystalline, granular La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO) sample. We have considered core-shell structure of our LCMO nanoparticles, which can explain its magnetic properties. From the temperature dependence of field cooled (FC) and zero-field cooled (ZFC) dc magnetization (DCM), the magnetic properties could be distinguished into two regimes: a relatively high temperature regime T > 40 K where the broad maximum of ZFC curve (at T = Tmax) is associated with the blocking of core particle moments, whereas the sharp maximum (at T = TS) is related to the freezing of surface (shell) spins. The unusual shape of M (H) loop at T = 1.5 K, temperature dependent feature of coercive field and remanent magnetization give a strong support of surface spin freezing that are occurring at lower temperature regime (T < 40 K) in this LCMO nanoparticles. Additionally, waiting time (tw) dependence of ZFC relaxation measurements at T = 50 K show weak dependence of relaxation rate [S(t)] on tw and dM/dln(t) following a logarithmic variation on time. Both of these features strongly support the high temperature regime to be associated with the blocking of core moments. At T = 20 K, ZFC relaxation measurements indicates the existence of two different types of relaxation processes in the sample with S(t) attaining a maximum at the elapsed time very close to the wait time tw = 1000 sec, which is an unequivocal sign of glassy behavior. This age-dependent effect convincingly establish the surface spin freezing of our LCMO nanoparticles associated with a background of superparamagnetic (SPM) phase of core moments.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗