arXiv subjects

Satoru Nakatsuji

Publications and source records attributed to Satoru Nakatsuji.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Strange metal without magnetic criticality

A fundamental challenge to our current understanding of metals is the frequent observation of qualitative departures from Fermi liquid behavior. The standard view attributes such non-Fermi liquid phenomena to the scattering of electrons off quantum critical fluctuations of an underlying order parameter. While the possibility of non-Fermi liquid behavior isolated from the border of magnetism has long been speculated, no experimental confirmation has been made. Here we report on the observation of a strange metal region in the absence of a magnetic instability in an ultrapure single crystal. In particular, we show that the heavy fermion superconductor $β$-YbAlB$_4$ forms a possible phase with strange metallic behavior across an extensive pressure regime, distinctly separated from a high-pressure magnetic quantum phase transition by a Fermi liquid phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Observation of the orbital quantum dynamics in the spin-1/2 hexagonal antiferromagnet Ba3CuSb2O9

We explore orbital dynamics in the spin liquid candidate Ba3CuSb2O9 using multi-frequency electron spin resonance. We prepared two high quality single crystals. The crystal with a slight copper deficiency shows a structural phase transition at around 200 K due to the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect, accompanied with orbital ordering. In contrast, the crystal with almost perfect stoichiometry shows no orbital ordering down to the lowest temperature of 1.5 K. Dramatic change in the g-factor anisotropy as a function of frequency and temperature demonstrates orbital quantum fluctuations at a nearly constant time scale of ~ 100 ps below 20 K, evidencing the emergence of an orbital liquid state in this quantum spin liquid compound.

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arXiv2015

High Pressure Measurements of the Resistivity of $β$-YbAlB$_4$

The electric resistivity $ρ(T)$ under hydrostatic pressure up to 8 GPa was measured above 2 K using a high-quality single crystal of the Yb-based heavy fermion system $β$-YbAlB$_4$. We found pressure-induced magnetic ordering above the critical pressure $P_{\rm c} \approx $ 2.4 GPa. This phase transition temperature $T_M$ is enhanced with pressure and reaches 30 K at a pressure of 8 GPa, which is the highest transition temperature for the Yb-based heavy fermion compounds. In contrast, the resistivity is insensitive to pressure below $P_c$ and exhibits the $T$-linear behavior in the temperature range between 2 and 20 K. Our results indicate that quantum criticality for $β$-YbAlB$_4$ is also located near $P_{\rm c}$ in addition to the ambient pressure.

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arXiv2014

Field-Induced Quadrupolar Quantum Criticality in PrV2Al20

PrV2Al20 is the heavy fermion superconductor based on the cubic Gamma3 doublet that exhibits non- magnetic quadrupolar ordering below ~ 0.6 K. Our magnetotransport study on PrV2Al20 reveals field-induced quadrupolar quantum criticality at Hc ~ 11 T applied along the [111] direction. Near the critical field Hc required to suppress the quadrupolar state, we find a marked enhancement of the resistivity rho(H, T), a divergent effective mass of quasiparticles and concomitant non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior (i.e. rho(T) ~ T^n with n < 0.5). We also observe the Shubnikov de Haas-effect above ?Hc, indicating the enhanced effective mass m/m0 ~ 10. This reveals the competition between the nonmagnetic Kondo effect and the intersite quadrupolar coupling, leading to the pronounced NFL behavior in an extensive region of T and H emerging from the quantum critical point.

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arXiv2014

Anomalous specific heat behaviour in the quadrupolar Kondo system PrV2Al20

We have measured the specific heat of PrV$_2$Al$_{20}$ at very low temperatures, using high quality single crystals with the residual resistivity ratio ~ 20. The high-quality single crystals exhibit clear double transitions at $T_{\rm Q} =$ 0.75 K and $T^* =$ 0.65 K. These transitions are clearer and shift to higher temperature in higher quality single crystals. Besides, there was no hysteresis in those transitions in warming and cooling process of the heat capacity measurements. In the ordered state below $T^*$, the specific heat shows a $T^4$ dependence, indicating the gapless mode associated with the quadrupole and/or octupole ordering.

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arXiv2014

Anisotropic transverse magnetoresistivity in alpha-YbAlB4

We measured the transverse magnetoresistivity of the mixed valence compound $α$-YbAlB$_4$. Two configurations were used where current was applied along [110] direction for both and magnetic field was applied along [-110] and $c$-axis. We found the transverse magnetoresistivity is highly anisotropic. In the weak field below 1 T, it is consistent with stronger $c$-$f$ hybridization in the $ab$ plane which was suggested from the previous zero field resistivity measurements. At the higher field above 3 T, we observed a negative transverse magnetoresistivity for the field applied along the $c$-axis. The temperature dependences of the resistivity measured at several different fields suggest the suppression of the heavy fermion behavior at the characteristic field of $\sim 5.5$ T.

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arXiv2014

Heavy Fermion Superconductivity in the Quadrupole Ordered State of PrV2Al20

PrV$_2$Al$_{20}$ is a rare example of a heavy fermion system based on strong hybridization between conduction electrons and nonmagnetic quadrupolar moments of the cubic $Γ_3$ ground doublet. Here, we report that a high-quality single crystal of PrV$_2$Al$_{20}$ exhibits superconductivity at $T_{\rm c}=$ 50 mK in the antiferroquadrupole-ordered state under ambient pressure. The heavy fermion character of the superconductivity is evident from the specific heat jump of $ΔC/T \sim 0.3$ J/mol K$^2$ and the effective mass $m^*/m_0 \sim 140$ estimated from the temperature dependence of the upper critical field. Furthermore, the high-quality single crystals exhibit double transitions at $T_{\rm Q}$ = 0.75 K and $T^{*}$ = 0.65 K associated with quadrupole and octapole degrees of freedom of the $Γ_3$ doublet. In the ordered state, the specific heat $C/T$ shows a $T^3$ dependence, indicating the gapless mode associated with the quadrupole and/or octapole order. The strong sensitivity to impurity of the superconductivity suggests unconventional character due to significant quadrupolar fluctuations.

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arXiv2012

Magnetic order induced by Fe substitution of Al site in the heavy fermion systems alpha-YbAlB4 and beta-YbAlB4

beta-YbAlB4 is a heavy fermion superconductor that exhibits a quantum criticality without tuning at zero field and under ambient pressure. We have succeeded in substituting Fe for Al in beta-YbAlB4 as well as the polymorphous compound alpha-YbAlB4, which in contrast has a heavy Fermi liquid ground state. Full structure determination by single crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed no change in crystal structure for both alpha- and beta-YbAlB4, in addition to volume contraction with Fe substitution. Our measurements of the magnetization and specific heat indicate that both alpha-YbAl0.93Fe0.07B4 and beta-YbAl0.94Fe0.06B4 exhibit a magnetic order, most likely of a canted antiferromagnetic type, at $7\sim 9$ K. The increase in the entropy as well as the decrease in the antiferromagnetic Weiss temperature with the Fe substitution in both systems indicates that the chemical pressure due to the Fe substitution suppresses the Kondo temperature and induces the magnetism.

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arXiv2012

Superconductivity in the Ferroquadrupolar State in the Quadrupolar Kondo Lattice PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$

The cubic compound PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$ is a quadrupolar Kondo lattice system that exhibits quadrupolar ordering due to the non-Kramers $Γ_3$ ground doublet and has strong hybridization between $4f$ and conduction electrons. Our study using high-purity single crystal reveals that PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$ exhibits type-II superconductivity at $T_{\rm c} = 200$ mK in the nonmagnetic ferroquadrupolar state. The superconducting critical temperature and field phase diagram suggests moderately enhanced effective mass of $m^*/m_0 \sim 16$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Continuous Transition between Antiferromagnetic Insulator and Paramagnetic Metal in the Pyrochlore Iridate Eu2Ir2O7

Our single crystal study of the magneto-thermal and transport properties of the pyrochlore iridate Eu2Ir2O7 reveals a continuous phase transition from a paramagnetic metal to an antiferromagnetic insulator for a sample with stoichiometry within ~1% resolution. The insulating phase has strong proximity to an antiferromagnetic semimetal, which is stabilized by several % level of the off-stoichiometry. Our observations suggest that in addition to electronic correlation and spin-orbit coupling the magnetic order is essential for opening the charge gap.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Superconducting gap structure of CeIrIn5 from field-angle-resolved measurements of its specific heat

In order to identify the gap structure of CeIrIn5, we measured field-angle-resolved specific heat C(phi) by conically rotating the magnetic field H around the c axis at low temperatures down to 80 mK. We revealed that C(phi) exhibits a fourfold angular oscillation, whose amplitude decreases monotonically by tilting H out of the ab plane. Detailed microscopic calculations based on the quasiclassical Eilenberger equation confirm that the observed features are uniquely explained by assuming the dx2-y2-wave gap. These results strongly indicate that CeIrIn5 is a dx2-y2-wave superconductor and suggest the universal pairing mechanism in CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, and Ir).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Strong Valence Fluctuation Effects in Sm$Tr_2$Al$_{20}$($Tr=$Ti, V, Cr)

We present a single crystal study of low temperature magnetism and transport in Sm$Tr_2$Al$_{20}$ ($Tr =$ Ti, V and Cr). Strong valence fluctuation is manifested as Kondo effects including a large Sommerfeld coefficient $γ$, a weak temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility and a $-\ln T$ dependent resistivity. All the systems order antiferromagnetically at $T_{\rm N}=$ 6.4 K (Ti), 2.3 K (V) and 1.8 K (Cr). Systematic change in the susceptibility, specific heat, and resistivity indicates that stronger $c$-$f$ hybridization in SmV$_2$Al$_{20}$ and SmCr$_2$Al$_{20}$ than in SmTi$_2$Al$_{20}$ suppresses $T_{\rm N}$ and induces the valence fluctuations and moreover field insensitive heavy fermion states.

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arXiv2011

Ferro-quadrupolar ordering in PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$

Origin of the non-magnetic phase transition in PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$, reported earlier in the macroscopic study, has been asserted microscopically using elastic and inelastic neutron scattering techniques. It has been shown spectroscopically that the crystalline-electric-field ground state is a non-magnetic $Γ_3$ doublet, whereas the excited states are two triplets ($Γ_4$ and $Γ_5$) and a singlet ($Γ_1$). The diffraction experiment under external magnetic field shows that the non-magnetic transition is indeed ferro-quadrupolar ordering, which takes place as a consequence of cooperative removal of the ground-state-doublet degeneracy. It is therefore concluded that PrTi$_2$Al$_{20}$ is another rare example of Pr compounds exhibiting non-magnetic quadrupolar order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Kondo Effects and Multipolar Order in the cubic PrTr2Al20 (Tr=Ti, V)

Our single crystal study reveals that PrTr2Al20 (Tr = Ti and V) provides the first examples of a cubic Γ3 nonmagnetic ground doublet system that shows the Kondo effect including a -ln T dependent resistivity. The Γ3 quadrupolar moments in PrV2Al20 induce anomalous metallic behavior through hybridization with conduction electrons, such as T^{1/2} dependent resistivity and susceptibility below ~ 20 K down to its ordering temperature T_O = 0.6 K. In PrTi2Al20, however, quadrupoles are well-localized and exhibit an order at T_O = 2.0 K. Stronger Kondo coupling in PrV2Al20 than in PrTi2Al20 suppresses quadrupolar ordering, and instead promotes hybridization between the Γ3 doublet and conduction electrons, leading to most likely the quadrupolar Kondo effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Criticality without Tuning in the Mixed Valence Compound beta-YbAlB4

Fermi liquid theory, the standard theory of metals, has been challenged by a number of observations of anomalous metallic behavior found in the vicinity of a quantum phase transition. The breakdown of the Fermi liquid is accomplished by fine-tuning the material to a quantum critical point using a control parameter such as the magnetic field, pressure, or chemical composition. Our high precision magnetization measurements of the ultrapure f-electron based superconductor β-YbAlB4 demonstrate a scaling of its free energy indicative of zero-field quantum criticality without tuning in a metal. The breakdown of Fermi-liquid behavior takes place in a mixed-valence state, in sharp contrast with other known examples of quantum critical f-electron systems that are magnetic Kondo lattice systems with integral valence.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

High Field ESR and Magnetization of the Triangular Lattice Antiferromagnet NiGa2S4

We report the experimental and the analytical results of electron spin resonance (ESR) and magnetization in high magnetic fields up to about 68 T of the quasi two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnet NiGa$_2$S$_4$. From the temperature evolution of the ESR absorption linewidth, we find a distinct disturbing of the development of the spin correlation by $Z_2$-vortices between 23 K and 8.5 K. Below $T_{\rm{v}}=8.5$ K, spin-wave calculations based on a 57$^{\circ}$ spiral spin order well explains the frequency dependence of the ESR resonance fields and high field magnetization processes for $H$$\parallel$$c$ and $H$$\perp$$c$, although the magnetization for $H$$\perp$$c$ at high fields is different from the calculated one. Furthermore, we explain the field independent specific heat with $T^2$-dependence by the same spin-wave calculation, but the magnitude of the specific heat is much less than the observed one. Accordingly, these results suggest the occurrence of a $Z_2$ vortex-induced topological transition at $T_{\rm{v}}$ and may indicate quantum effects beyond the descriptions based on the above classical spin models.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Successive phase transitions and phase diagrams of the quasi-two-dimensional triangular antiferromagnet Rb4Mn(MoO4)3

Comprehensive experimental studies by magnetic, thermal and neutron measurements have clarified that Rb4Mn(MoO4)3 is a model system of a quasi-2D triangular Heisenberg antiferromagnet with an easy-axis anisotropy, exhibiting successive transitions across an intermediate collinear phase. As a rare case for geometrically frustrated magnetism, quantitative agreement between experiment and theory is found for complete, anisotropic phase diagrams as well as magnetic properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Evidence of superconductivity on the border of quasi-2D ferromagnetism in Ca2RuO4 at high pressure

The layered perovskite Ca2RuO4 is a spin-one Mott insulator at ambient pressure and exhibits metallic ferromagnetism at least up to ~ 80 kbar with a maximum Curie temperature of 28 K. Above ~ 90 kbar and up to 140 kbar, the highest pressure reached, the resistivity and ac susceptibility show pronounced downturns below ~ 0.4 K in applied magnetic fields of up to ~10 mT. This indicates that our specimens of Ca2RuO4 are weakly superconducting on the border of a quasi-2D ferromagnetic state.

cond-mat.supr-con↗