arXiv subjects

Shwetha G. Bhat

Publications and source records attributed to Shwetha G. Bhat.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Field-like Perturbation Enabled Six-state Readout in Triaxial $\alpha$-$\mathrm{Fe}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$|Pt Bi-layers

Canted antiferromagnet $\alpha$-$\mathrm{Fe}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$|Pt bilayers offer a platform for multistate memory, but spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) readout cannot distinguish states separated by $180^{\circ}$, limiting detection to three states. We show that a field-like perturbation lifts the degeneracy of opposite states in $\alpha$-$\mathrm{Fe}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$, enabling the resolution of six states in the SMR signal. We introduce a dual-modulation SMR method to mitigate thermal drifts and enable reliable readout. Computations of first- and second-harmonic SMR reveal the role of exchange, anisotropy and field-like perturbations in resolving the states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Interfacial control of magnetism and electron transport in nonisostructural SrRuO$_3$/SrCuO$_2$ heterostructure

Heterointerfaces between structurally dissimilar oxides provide a platform to exploit the interfacial mismatch in the lattice and electronic degrees of freedom to realize emergent functionalities and tunable physical properties with potential applications in oxide electronics. Here, we investigate the magnetic and electronic transport properties of symmetry-mismatched SrRuO$_3$ (SRO)/SrCuO$_2$ (SCO) heterostructure, in which a 4-nm-thick itinerant ferromagnetic metal SRO is interfaced with a planar-type antiferromagnetic insulator SCO, in comparison with a reference SRO (4 nm) film. While both the bare SRO and SRO/SCO bilayer exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), the SRO/SCO bilayer shows a pronounced enhancement in the saturation magnetization (M$_S$ $\approx$ 2.7 $\mu_B$/Ru) and effective anisotropy constant (K$_{\mathrm{eff}}$ $\approx$ 2.13 $\times$ 10$^6$ erg/cc) relative to the bare SRO film (M$_S$ $\approx$ 1.3 $\mu_B$/Ru and K$_{\mathrm{eff}}$ $\approx$ 5.25 $\times$ 10$^5$ erg/cc). Interestingly, the low-temperature resistivity upturn below 5 K arising from disorder-induced quantum corrections in bare SRO is strongly suppressed in SRO/SCO, and it exhibits Fermi-liquid-like transport ($\rho \propto T^2$) down to 2 K. Analysis of the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) reveals dominant intrinsic Berry-curvature driven electron transport in both samples, with enhanced intrinsic and skew-scattering contributions in the SRO/SCO bilayer, indicating the critical role of the interface in modifying the electronic band structure near the Fermi level. Our results demonstrate that the interface acts as an effective control knob, concurrently enhancing the magnetization, PMA, and intrinsic scattering contribution to the AHE in the SRO/SCO heterostructure, while suppressing the disorder-driven quantum corrections to transport behavior observed in the bare SRO film.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Probing Interfacial Magnetic Anisotropy in \texorpdfstring{CoV$_{2}$O$_{4}$}{CoV2O4} using Spin Hall Magnetoresistance

Spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) has emerged as a powerful probe for investigating interfacial spin transport and magnetic anisotropy in complex oxide heterostructures. In this work, we investigate the interfacial magnetic anisotropy in Pt/CVO through angle-dependent magnetotransport measurements. Unlike the bulk-sensitive magnetic measurements on both strained CVO and Pt/CVO films, which exhibit a ferrimagnetic transition at $T_{C} \approx 150$ K accompanied by out-of-plane anisotropy that reorients toward in-plane anisotropy below 90 K, SMR reveals a distinct interfacial magnetic anisotropy. The rotational scans of the in-plane transverse SMR at 20 K exhibit substantial hysteresis about [100], while no hysteresis is observed along [110] and [1$\bar{1}$0], indicating a biaxial anisotropy with easy axes along [110] and [1$\bar{1}$0]. Furthermore, the absence of sharp discontinuities in both the in-plane longitudinal and transverse SMR, together with pronounced discontinuities near the in-plane [010] direction during out-of-plane rotation, strongly indicates the presence of in-plane anisotropy. This behavior persists up to 120 K. The discrepancy between the bulk-sensitive magnetic measurements and the SMR response suggests that the Pt/CVO interface retains a magnetic anisotropy distinct from the bulk, highlighting the interfacial sensitivity of SMR. Additionally, the spin mixing conductance is found to be of the order of $10^{14}$ $\Omega^{-1}\mathrm{m}^{-2}$, comparable to other oxide-based spintronic systems. These findings highlight the crucial role of interfacial effects in spin transport and establish Pt/CVO as a promising platform for spintronic applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Simple 4-segment thermal cycling pyroelectric measurement protocol for differentiating between ferroelectric and non-ferroelectric materials

The rare-earth chromates (RECrO$_3$) and manganites (REMnO$_3$) where, RE = Eu, Y, Dy, Ho, Gd are constantly under scrutiny in search of room temperature magnetoelectric multiferroics. However, the artefacts and undesirable signal in some of the measurements pose a severe challenge in confirming the ferroelectric (FE) phase, especially in reference to pyroelectric current measurement technique. In this regard, we propose a simple modified approach to pyroelectric current measurement named as 4-segment thermal cycling protocol. This protocol assists in isolating the elusive, irreversible thermally stimulated current from the currents associated with spontaneous and reversible nature of the electric polarization in FE phase. In order to explain working principle of the protocol, we have compared simulated response of two hypothetical materials; an FE material free of space charges and a paraelectric material possessing only space charges. Further, we experimentally verify these new protocols in a single crystal of prototype ferroelectric material, Glycine Phosphite. This report primarily focuses on detailed investigation of ferroelectricity using the proposed protocol in two polycrystalline materials, HoCrO$_3$ and DyFe$_{0.5}$Mn$_{0.5}$O$_3$ where, the former has been reported to be multiferroic earlier. Our elaborative and careful approach to pyroelectric studies expound on the absence of reversible spontaneous electric polarization at temperature ranges tested in both, HoCrO$_3$ and DyFe$_{0.5}$Mn$_{0.5}$O$_3$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Evidence for weak antilocalization-weak localization crossover and metal-insulator transition in CaCu$_{3}$Ru$_{4}$O$_{12}$ thin films

Artificial confinement of electrons by tailoring the layer thickness has turned out to be a powerful tool to harness control over competing phases in nano-layers of complex oxides. We investigate the effect of dimensionality on transport properties of $d$-electron based heavy-fermion metal CaCu$_{3}$Ru$_{4}$O$_{12}$. Transport behavior evolves from metallic to localized regime upon reducing thickness and a metal insulator transition is observed below 3 nm film thickness for which sheet resistance crosses $h/e^{2} \sim 25~$k$Ω$, the quantum resistance in 2D. Magnetotransport study reveals a strong interplay between inelastic and spin-orbit scattering lengths upon reducing thickness, which results in weak antilocalization (WAL) to weak localization (WL) crossover in magnetoconductance.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

The effect of Sn intercalation on the superconducting properties of 2H-NbSe2

2H-NbSe2 is known to be an archetype layered transitional metal dichalcogenide superconductor with a superconducting transition temperature of 7.3 K.In this article, we investigate the influence of Sn intercalation on superconducting properties of 2H-NbSe2. Sn being nonmagnetic and having no outer shell d-electrons unlike transition metals, one naively would presume that its effect on superconducting properties will be very marginal. However, our magnetic and transport studies reveal a significant reduction of both superconducting transition temperature and upper critical field [Tc and BC2 (0)] upon Sn intercalation. With a mere 4 mole% Sn intercalation, it is observed that Tc and BC2 (0) get suppressed by ~ 3.5 K and 3 T, respectively. Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) analysis of magneto-transport data is performed to estimate BC2 (0). From the low temperature Raman scattering data in the normal phase of intercalated NbSe2, it is inferred that the suppression of superconductivity cannot be ascribed to strengthening of charge density wave (CDW)ordering. The effects such as electron-doping induced Fermi surface change and/or disorder scattering upon intercalation are speculated to be at play for the observed phenomena.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Unconventional exchange bias coupling at perovskite/brownmillerite interface in spontaneously stabilized SrCoO3-δ/SrCoO2.5 bi-layer

Interface effect in complex oxide thin film heterostructures lies at the vanguard of current research to design technologically relevant functionality and explore emergent physical phenomena. While most of the previous works focus on the perovskite/perovskite heterostructures, the study on perovskite/brownmillerite interfaces remain at its infancy. Here, we investigate spontaneously stabilized perovskite-ferromagnet (SrCoO3-δ)/brownmillertite-antiferromagnet (SrCoO2.5) bi-layer with TN > TC and discover an unconventional interfacial magnetic exchange bias effect. From magnetometry investigations, it is rationalized that the observed effect stems from the interfacial ferromagnet/antiferromagnet coupling. The possibility for coupled ferromagnet/spinglass interface engendering such effect is ruled out. Strikingly, a finite coercive field persists in the paramagnetic state of SrCoO3-δ whereas the exchange bias field vanishes at TC. We conjecture the observed effect to be due to the effective external quenched staggered field provided by the antiferromagtic layer for the ferromagnetic spins at the interface. Our results not only unveil a new paradigm to tailor the interfacial magnetic properties in oxide heterostructures without altering the cations at the interface, but also provide a purview to delve into the fundamental aspects of exchange bias in such unusual systems paving a big step forward in thin film magnetism.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗