arXiv subjects

S. Paschen

Publications and source records attributed to S. Paschen.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Incommensurate short-range multipolar order parameter of phase II in Ce3Pd20Si6

The clathrate compound Ce3Pd20Si6 is a heavy-fermion metal that exhibits magnetically hidden order at low temperatures. Reputedly, this exotic type of magnetic ground state, known as "phase II", could be associated with the ordering of Ce 4f quadrupolar moments. In contrast to conventional (dipolar) order, it has vanishing Bragg intensity in zero magnetic field and, as a result, has escaped direct observation by neutron scattering until now. Here we report the observation of diffuse magnetic neutron scattering induced by an application of magnetic field along either the [110] or the [001] direction within phase II. The broad elastic magnetic signal that surrounds the (111) structural Bragg peak can be attributed to a short-range G-type antiferromagnetic arrangement of field-induced dipoles modulated by the underlying multipolar order on the simple-cubic sublattice of Ce ions occupying the 8c Wyckoff site. In addition, for magnetic fields applied along the [001] direction, the diffuse magnetic peaks in Ce3Pd20Si6 become incommensurate, suggesting a more complex modulated structure of the underlying multipolar order that can be continuously tuned by a magnetic field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Converse effect of pressure on quadrupolar and magnetic transition in Ce$_{3}$Pd$_{20}$Si$_{6}$

The heavy fermion compound Ce$_{3}$Pd$_{20}$Si$_{6}$ displays unconventional quantum criticality as the lower of two consecutive phase transitions is fully suppressed by magnetic field. Here we report on the effects of pressure as additional tuning parameter. Specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements reveal a converse effect of pressure on the two transitions, leading to the merging of both transitions at 6.2 kbar. The field-induced quantum criticality is robust under pressure tuning. We rationalize our findings within an extended version of the global phase diagram for antiferromagnetic heavy fermion quantum criticality.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

CeRu$_4$Sn$_6$: a strongly correlated material with nontrivial topology

Topological insulators form a novel state of matter that provides new opportunities to create unique quantum phenomena. While the materials used so far are based on semiconductors, recent theoretical studies predict that also strongly correlated systems can show non-trivial topological properties, thereby allowing even the emergence of surface phenomena that are not possible with topological band insulators. From a practical point of view, it is also expected that strong correlations will reduce the disturbing impact of defects or impurities, and at the same increase the Fermi velocities of the topological surface states. The challenge is now to discover such correlated materials. Here, using advanced x-ray spectroscopies in combination with band structure calculations, we infer that CeRu$_4$Sn$_6$ is a strongly correlated material with non-trivial topology.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Kondo Destruction in Heavy Fermion Quantum Criticality and the Photoemission Spectrum of YbRh$_2$Si$_2$

Heavy fermion metals provide a prototype setting to study quantum criticality. Experimentally, quantum critical points have been identified and studied in a growing list of heavy fermion compounds. Theoretically, Kondo destruction has provided a means to characterize a class of unconventional quantum critical points that goes beyond the Landau framework of order-parameter fluctuations. Among the prominent evidence for such local quantum criticality have been measurements in YbRh$_2$Si$_2$. A rapid crossover is observed at finite temperatures in the isothermal field dependence of the Hall coefficient and other transport and thermodynamic quantities, which specifies a $T^*(B)$ line in the temperature ($T$)-magnetic field ($B$) phase diagram. Here, we discuss what happens when temperature is raised, by analyzing the ratio of the crossover width to the crossover position. With this ratio approaching unity at $T \gtrsim 0.5$ K, YbRh$_2$Si$_2$ at zero magnetic field belongs to the quantum-critical fluctuation regime, where the single-particle spectral function has significant spectral weight at both the small and large Fermi surfaces. This implies that, in this temperature range, any measurements sensitive to the Fermi surface will also see a significant spectral weight at the large Fermi surface. The angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments recently reported for YbRh$_2$Si$_2$ at $T>1$ K are consistent with this expectation, and therefore support the association of the $T^*(B)$ line with the physics of Kondo destruction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Destruction of Kondo effect in cubic heavy fermion compound Ce3Pd20Si6

How ground states of quantum matter transform between one another reveals deep insights into the mechanisms stabilizing them. Correspondingly, quantum phase transitions are explored in numerous materials classes, with heavy fermion compounds being among the most prominent ones. Recent studies in an anisotropic heavy fermion compound have shown that different types of transitions are induced by variations of chemical or external pressure [1-3], raising the question of the extent to which heavy fermion quantum criticality is universal. To make progress, it is essential to broaden both the materials basis and the microscopic parameter variety. Here, we identify a cubic heavy fermion material as exhibiting a field-induced quantum phase transition, and show how the material can be used to explore one extreme of the dimensionality axis. The transition between two different ordered phases is accompanied by an abrupt change of Fermi surface, reminiscent of what happens across the field-induced antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition in the anisotropic YbRh2Si2. This finding leads to a materials-based global phase diagram -- a precondition for a unified theoretical description.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Momentum-space structure of quasielastic spin fluctuations in Ce3Pd20Si6

Among heavy-fermion metals, Ce$_3$Pd$_{20}$Si$_6$ is one of the heaviest-electron systems known to date. Here we used high-resolution neutron spectroscopy to observe low-energy magnetic scattering from a single crystal of this compound in the paramagnetic state. We investigated its temperature dependence and distribution in momentum space, which was not accessible in earlier measurements on polycrystalline samples. At low temperatures, a quasielastic magnetic response with a half-width Γ=0.1 meV persists with varying intensity all over the Brillouin zone. It forms a broad hump centered at the (111) scattering vector, surrounded by minima of intensity at (002), (220) and equivalent wave vectors. The momentum-space structure distinguishes this signal from a simple crystal-field excitation at 0.31 meV, suggested previously, and rather lets us ascribe it to short-range dynamical correlations between the neighboring Ce ions, mediated by the itinerant heavy f-electrons via the RKKY mechanism. With increasing temperature, the energy width of the signal follows the conventional T$\scriptstyle^{1/2}$ law, Γ(T) = Γ$_0$ + A*T$\scriptstyle^{1/2}$. The momentum-space symmetry of the quasielastic response suggests that it stems from the simple-cubic Ce sublattice occupying the 8c Wyckoff site, whereas the crystallographically inequivalent 4a site remains magnetically silent in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Ordered Phases and Quantum Criticality in Cubic Heavy Fermion Compounds

Quantum criticality in cubic heavy fermion compounds remains much less explored than in quasi-two-dimensional systems. However, such materials are needed to broadly test the recently suggested global phase diagram for heavy fermion quantum criticality. Thus, to boost these activities, we review the field, with focus on Ce-based systems with temperature-magnetic field or temperature-pressure phase diagrams that may host a quantum critical point. To date, CeIn3 and Ce3Pd20Si6 are the only two among these compounds where quantum critical behaviour has been systematically investigated. Interestingly, both show Fermi surface reconstructions as function of the magnetic field that may be understood in terms of Kondo destruction quantum criticality.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Thermopower enhancement by encapsulating cerium in clathrate cages

The increasing worldwide energy consumption calls for the design of more efficient energy systems. Thermoelectrics could be used to convert waste heat back to useful electric energy if only more efficient materials were available. The ideal thermoelectric material combines high electrical conductivity and thermopower with low thermal conductivity. In this regard, the intermetallic type-I clathrates show promise with their exceedingly low lattice thermal conductivities [1]. Here we report the successful incorporation of cerium as guest atom into the clathrate crystal structure. In many simpler intermetallic compounds, this rare earth element is known to lead, via the Kondo interaction, to strong correlation phenomena including the ocurrence of giant thermopowers at low temperatures [2]. Indeed, we observe a 50% enhancement of the thermopower compared to a rare earth-free reference material. Importantly, this enhancement occurs at high temperatures and we suggest that a `rattling' enhanced Kondo interaction [3] underlies this effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Anisotropic optical conductivity of the putative Kondo insulator CeRu$_4$Sn$_6$

Kondo insulators and in particular their non-cubic representatives have remained poorly understood. Here we report on the development of an anisotropic energy pseudogap in the tetragonal compound CeRu$_4$Sn$_6$ employing optical reflectivity measurements in broad frequency and temperature ranges, and local density approximation plus dynamical mean field theory calculations. The calculations provide evidence for a Kondo insulator-like response within the $a-a$ plane and a more metallic response along the c axis and qualitatively reproduce the experimental observations, helping to identify their origin.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Comment on "Zeeman-Driven Lifshitz Transition: A Model for the Experimentally Observed Fermi-Surface Reconstruction in YbRh2Si2"

In Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 137002 (2011), A. Hackl and M. Vojta have proposed to explain the quantum critical behavior of YbRh2Si2 in terms of a Zeeman-induced Lifshitz transition of an electronic band whose width is about 6 orders of magnitude smaller than that of conventional metals. Here, we note that the ultra-narrowness of the proposed band, as well as the proposed scenario per se, lead to properties which are qualitatively inconsistent with the salient features observed in YbRh2Si2 near its quantum critical point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Thermoelectric properties of Ba-Cu-Si clathrates

Thermoelectric properties of the type-I clathrates Ba$_8$Cu$_x$Si$_{46-x}$ ($3.6 \leq x \leq 7$, $x$ = nominal Cu content) are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The polycrystalline samples are prepared either by melting, ball milling and hot pressing or by melt spinning, hand milling and hot pressing techniques. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity, $ρ(T)$, and the Seebeck coefficient, $S(T)$, measurements reveal metal-like behavior for all samples. For $x = 5$ and 6, density functional theory calculations are performed for deriving the enthalpy of formation and the electronic structure which is exploited for the calculation of Seebeck coefficients and conductivity within Boltzmann's transport theory. For simulating the properties of doped clathrates the rigid band model is applied. On the basis of the density functional theory results the experimentally observed compositional dependence of $ρ(T)$ and $S(T)$ of the whole sample series is analyzed. The highest dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit $ZT$ of 0.28 is reached for a melt-spun sample at $600^{\circ}$C. The relatively low $ZT$ values in this system are attributed to the too high charge carrier concentrations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Hall effect measurements on YbRh2Si2 and relatives in the light of electronic structure calculations

We report experimental and theoretical investigations of the Hall effect in YbRh2Si2 and its reference compounds LuRh2Si2 and YbIr2Si2. Based on band-structure calculations we identify two bands dominating the Hall coefficient in all these compounds. For the case of LuRh2Si2 - the non-magnetic reference compound of YbRh2Si2 - the temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient is described quantitatively to arise from two hole-like bands. For YbIr2Si2 and YbRh2Si2, renormalized band calculations yield two bands of opposite character. In YbRh2Si2 these two bands almost compensate each other. We present strong indications that the sample dependences of the low-temperature Hall coefficient observed for YbRh2Si2 arise from slight variations of the relative scattering rates of the two bands. Minute changes of the composition appear to be the origin.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Evidence for a Non-Fermi-Liquid Phase in Ge-Substituted YbRh2Si2

The canonical view of heavy fermion quantum criticality assumes a single quantum critical point separating the paramagnet from the antiferromagnet. However, recent experiments on Yb-based heavy fermion compounds suggest the presence of non-Fermi liquid behavior over a finite zero-temperature region. Using detailed susceptibility and transport measurements we show that the classic quantum critical system, Ge-substituted YbRh2Si2, also displays such behavior. We advance arguments that this is not due to a disorder-smeared quantum critical point, but represents a new class of metallic phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Field dependence of the thermopower of CeNiSn

Previously measured thermopower data of CeNiSn exhibit a significant sample dependence and non-monotonous behavior in magnetic fields. In this paper we demonstrate that the measured thermopower S(T) may contain a contribution from the huge Nernst coefficient of the compound, even in moderate fields of 2 T. A correction for this effect allows to determine the intrinsic field dependence of S(T). The observed thermopower behavior can be understood from Zeeman splitting of a V-shaped pseudogap in magnetic fields.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Multiple energy scales at a quantum critical point

We report thermodynamic measurements in a magnetic-field-driven quantum critical point of a heavy fermion metal, YbRh$_2$Si$_2$. The data provide evidence for an energy scale in the equilibrium excitation spectrum, that is in addition to the one expected from the slow fluctuations of the order parameter. Both energy scales approach zero as the quantum critical point is reached, thereby providing evidence for a new class of quantum criticality.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Two-Cannel Kondo Effect in Glass-Like ThAsSe

We present low-temperature heat and charge transport as well as caloric properties of a ThAsSe single crystal. An extra -AT1/2 term in the electrical resistivity, independent of magnetic fields as high as 14 T, provides evidence for an unusual scattering of conduction electrons. Additionally, both the thermal conductivity and specific heat show a glass-type temperature dependence which signifies the presence of tunneling states. These observations apparently point to an experimantal realization of a two-channel Kondo effect derived from structural two-level systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Hall-effect evolution across a heavy-fermion quantum critical point

A quantum critical point (QCP) develops in a material at absolute zero when a new form of order smoothly emerges in its ground state. QCPs are of great current interest because of their singular ability to influence the finite temperature properties of materials. Recently, heavy-fermion metals have played a key role in the study of antiferromagnetic QCPs. To accommodate the heavy electrons, the Fermi surface of the heavy-fermion paramagnet is larger than that of an antiferromagnet. An important unsolved question concerns whether the Fermi surface transformation at the QCP develops gradually, as expected if the magnetism is of spin density wave (SDW) type, or suddenly as expected if the heavy electrons are abruptly localized by magnetism. Here we report measurements of the low-temperature Hall coefficient ($R_H$) - a measure of the Fermi surface volume - in the heavy-fermion metal YbRh2Si2 upon field-tuning it from an antiferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state. $R_H$ undergoes an increasingly rapid change near the QCP as the temperature is lowered, extrapolating to a sudden jump in the zero temperature limit. We interpret these results in terms of a collapse of the large Fermi surface and of the heavy-fermion state itself precisely at the QCP.

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