arXiv subjects

Sunil Nair

Publications and source records attributed to Sunil Nair.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optimized Broadband Cryogenic Ferromagnetic Resonance Spectrometer using a Closed Cycle Refrigerator

We present a vector network analyzer (VNA) based broadband cryogenic ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectrometer, operating up to 20 GHz over a temperature range of 11 to 350 K. A cost effective architecture is implemented through the integration of a closed cycle refrigerator (CCR) and a custom fabricated grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW), designed for broadband transmission and reliable cryogenic operation. The VNA calibration is performed prior to measurements to account for microwave background and transmission losses, enabling reliable extraction of FMR spectra across the full temperature / frequency range. The sensitivity of the spectrometer is benchmarked using a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin film, yielding well resolved resonances with narrow linewidths and high sensitivity.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Exploring the Anomalous Nernst Effect in SrRuO$_3$

We investigate the anomalous Nernst effect in epitaxial SrRuO$_3$ thin films grown on c-cut Al$_2$O$_3$ substrates, and in a polycrystalline SrRuO$_3$ slab. Through comprehensive measurements of the transverse thermoelectric response as a function of temperature and magnetic field, we observe a pronounced Nernst signal near $T_c$ in the (111) oriented SrRuO$_3$ thin films. The strong temperature and nontrivial field dependence underscore the pivotal role of the magnetic anisotropy in tuning the Berry curvature and, consequently, the anomalous Nernst effect in SrRuO$_3$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Magnon Spin Current Modulation through Site-Specific Doping in a Compensated Iron Garnet

We report on the impact of manganese doping at the iron sites in Gadolinium Iron Garnet (GdIG, Gd$_{3}$Fe$_{5}$O$_{12}$), employing temperature-dependent spin Seebeck effect and ferromagnetic resonance measurements. Our findings reveal a clear shift in the magnetic compensation temperature ($T_{comp}$) in Mn-doped GdIG, with minimal changes observed in the magnetic and damping properties. Notably, the spin Seebeck signal strength was enhanced significantly with the Mn doping. This enhancement is attributed to an increased spin mixing conductance and modifications in the magnon spectra that strengthen exchange interactions, highlighting the material's potential for room-temperature spintronic applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Understanding the evolution of the magnetic ground state in Ba$_4$NaRu$_3$O$_{12}$

We report a comprehensive investigation of the quadruple perovskite Ba$_4$NaRu$_3$O$_{12}$, in which we discover a robust spin-lattice coupled ground state characterized by a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at $T_N \sim$ 257 K. The system's unique structural motif of three symmetrically distinct magnetic ions, including Ru dimers separated by non-magnetic layers, is intimately correlated with its magnetic behavior, as evidenced by temperature-dependent diffraction measurements and specific heat data. The powder neutron diffraction patterns at 13 K showed that the spins within the dimers are antiparallel, leading to a net zero moment contribution and a staggered arrangement of the triangular layers formed by the Ru moments within the corner-shared octahedra along the $c$-axis. The low-temperature specific heat revealed an extra boson peak contribution from optical modes with a maximum vibrational energy of $\sim$55cm$^{-1}$. The charge transport exhibited variable-range hopping (VRH) behaviour below $T_N$, with a stronger energy-dependence than expected from the Efros-Shklovskii model, suggesting the presence of multiparticle correlation effects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Freezing of short-range ordered antiferromagnetic clusters in the CrFeTi$_2$O$_7$ system

We report on the CrFeTi$_2$O$_7$ (CFTO) system using a combination of x-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, specific heat and neutron diffraction measurements. CFTO is seen to crystallize in a monoclinic $P21/a$ symmetry. It shows a glassy freezing at $T{_f}$ ~ 22 K, characterized by the observation of bifurcation between ZFC and FC $χ$ (T) curves, frequency dispersion across $T{_f}$ in ac susceptibility, appearance of non-zero remanent magnetization and coercivity below $T{_f}$, very slow relaxation of iso-thermal remanent magnetization with time and a linear temperature dependence of magnetic contribution to specific heat $C{_m}$ below $T{_f}$. The microscopic neutron diffraction analysis of CFTO not only confirms the absence of long-range antiferromagnetic ordering but also exhibits diffuse scattering due to the presence of shortrange ordered antiferromagnetically correlated spin clusters.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Quasi-static remanence as a generic-feature of spin-canting in Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction driven canted-antiferromagnets

We consistently observe a unique pattern in remanence in a number of canted-antiferromagnets (AFM) and piezomagnets. A part of the remanence is $\textit{quasi-static}$ in nature and vanishes above a critical magnetic field. Present work is devoted to exploring this $\textit{quasi-static}$ remanence ($μ$) in a series of isostructural canted-AFMs and piezomagnets that possess progressively increasing Néel temperature ($T{_N}$). Comprehensive investigation of remanence as a function of $\textit{magnetic-field}$ and $\textit{time}$ in CoCO$_{3}$, NiCO$_{3}$ and MnCO$_{3}$ reveals that the magnitude of $μ$ increases with decreasing $T{_N}$, but the stability with time is higher in the samples with higher $T{_N}$. Further to this, all three carbonates exhibit a universal scaling in $μ$, which relates to the concurrent phenomenon of piezomagnetism. Overall, these data not only establish that the observation of $\textit{quasi-static}$ remanence with $\textit{counter-intuitive}$ magnetic-field dependence can serve as a foot-print for spin-canted systems, but also confirms that simple remanence measurements, using SQUID magnetometry, can provide insights about the extent of spin canting - a non trivial parameter to determine. In addition, these data suggest that the functional form of $μ$ with $\textit{magnetic-field}$ and $\textit{time}$ may hold key to isolate Dzyaloshinskii Moriya Interaction driven spin-canted systems from Single Ion Anisotropy driven ones. We also demonstrate the existence of $μ$ by tracking specific peaks in neutron diffraction data, acquired in remnant state in CoCO$_{3}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Exploring low-temperature dynamics in triple perovskite ruthenates using nonlinear dielectric susceptibility measurements

We report the nonlinear dielectric properties of three triple-perovskite ruthenates: Ba$_3$CoRu$_2$O$_9$, Ba$_3$BiRu$_2$O$_9$, and Sr$_3$CaRu$_2$O$_9$. These compounds exhibit notable correlations among their spin, charge, lattice, and polar degrees of freedom. Ba$_3$CoRu$_2$O$_9$ displays a pronounced frequency-dependent relaxation in $χ_{2,3}$ just above the magnetoelastic transition, occurring around 100K, followed by an abrupt loss of polarization within the ordered phase. In Ba$_3$BiRu$_2$O$_9$, we encounter the possibility of multiple coexisting relaxation behaviors, indicating a complex phase strongly influenced by the spin-gap opening at 175K. Lastly, Sr$_3$CaRu$_2$O$_9$ displays anomalies with strong dispersion effects close to its magnetic transitions, pointing to a robust coupling between magnetic and dipolar orders in the system. These measurements highlight the significance of higher-order (hyper-)susceptibilities in providing profound insight into the dynamics of a system, offering information otherwise inaccessible through the linear polarization response alone.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy of single crystalline KH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$

This study employs resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) to investigate the elastic properties of single crystalline KH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$ (KDP) through the paraelectric to ferroelectric phase transition. Noteworthy anomalies are observed in selected resonance modes and their corresponding mechanical quality factors ($Q$) around the transition temperature. The thermal evolution of elastic constants ($C_{ij}$) across the phase transition reveals a significant softening of $C_{11}$, $C_{12}$, and $C_{13}$, accompanied by a stiffening in $C_{66}$. Additionally, both $C_{33}$ and $C_{44}$ exhibit a minimum value at the transition. This anomalous behavior of all elastic constants ($C_{ij}$) across the phase transition suggests the involvement of higher-order coupling between the lattice and polarization in the KDP crystal. Furthermore, the bulk modulus ($B$) undergoes a sudden softening precisely at the transition, while the shear modulus ($G$) initially softens and subsequently stiffens across the transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Successive magnetic phase transitions with magnetoelastic and magnetodielectric coupling in the ordered triple perovskite Sr$_3$CaRu$_2$O$_9$

We report a comprehensive temperature-dependent investigation of the 1:2 ordered triple perovskite system Sr$_3$CaRu$_2$O$_9$. It crystallizes in the monoclinic structure with space group $P21/c$, consisting of corner-sharing CaO$_6$ and RuO$_6$ octahedra. Using DC magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements, we show that this system undergoes successive magnetic transitions ~190 K and ~160 K. From the analysis of the temperature-dependent neutron diffraction and dielectric data, we demonstrate two distinguishing features of the Sr$_3$CaRu$_2$O$_9$ system: (i) magnetoelastic coupling associated with the two magnetic transitions, as revealed by a change in the unit cell volume, direct Ru-Ru distance, and bond angles and (ii) magnetodielectric coupling, as revealed by the anomalies across the two magnetic transitions. The present results would add significantly to the current understanding of the triple perovskites with incipient spin-orbit coupling.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Disorder driven cluster glass state in a geometrically frustrated hexagonal perovskite

We report the observation of cluster glass-like properties in a double perovskite ruthenate Ba$_2$CoRuO$_6$ through structural (neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction), magnetic and transport measurements. The system exhibits classic glassy characteristics like a frequency dependence in ac Susceptibility, aging and memory effects along with persistance of short-range correlations upto room temperature. The significant ($\sim30\%$) anti-site disorder on the dimer sites, coupled with the inherent geometrical frustration, allows a variety of exchange (both antiferro- and ferromagnetic) interactions to be distributed randomly across the lattice. On cooling, locally dominant interactions cause spins to nucleate and form local, short-range ordered clusters which grow in size until a global freezing occurs at about $T_f \sim 43K$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Crystal orientation dependent spin pumping in Bi0.1Y2.9Fe5O12/Pt interface

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) based spin pumping is a versatile tool to quantify the spin mixing conductance and spin to charge conversion (S2CC) efficiency of ferromagnet/normal metal (FM/NM) heterostructure. The spin mixing conductance of FM/NM interface can also be tuned by the crystal orientation symmetry of epitaxial FM. In this work, we study the S2CC in epitaxial Bismuth substituted Yttrium Iron Garnet (Bi0.1Y2.9Fe5O12) thin films Bi-YIG (100 nm) interfaced with heavy metal platinum (Pt (8 nm)) deposited by pulsed laser deposition process on different crystal orientation Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) substrates i.e. [100] and [111]. The crystal structure and surface roughness characterized by X-Ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements establish epitaxial Bi-YIG[100], Bi-YIG[111] orientations and atomically flat surfaces respectively. The S2CC quantification has been realized by two complimentary techniques, (i) FMR-based spin pumping and inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) at GHz frequency and (ii) temperature dependent spin Seebeck measurements. FMR-ISHE results demonstrate that the [111] oriented Bi-YIG/Pt sample shows significantly higher values of spin mixing conductance ((2.31+-0.23)x10^18 m^-2) and spin Hall angle (0.01+-0.001) as compared to the [100] oriented Bi-YIG/Pt. A longitudinal spin Seebeck measurement reveals that the [111] oriented sample has higher spin Seebeck coefficient (106.40+-10 nV mm-1 K-1). This anisotropic nature of spin mixing conductance and spin Seebeck coefficient in [111] and [100] orientation has been discussed using the magnetic environment elongation along the surface normal or parallel to the growth direction. Our results aid in understanding the role of crystal orientation symmetry in S2CC based spintronics devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Nonlocal drag by topological surface magnons in a pyrochlore ferromagnet

The nontrivial topology of quasiparticle wavefunctions can manifest themselves in the form of observable surface states. This is now well established in electronic systems, with Dirac and Weyl semimetals bringing to fore the exotic nature of these topologically protected entities. Magnons - which refer to collective excitations of localized spins - offer another sector where many of these concepts could be realized. Here, we report magneto-thermal measurements on a pyrochlore ferromagnet which is theoretically predicted to host such topological magnons. It is demonstrated that the thermoelectric potential across a metal layer deposited on single crystalline specimens of Y$_2$V$_2$O$_7$ can be used to measure the magnon Hall effect. Moreover, a direct manifestation of topologically protected magnon surface states is observed - via the interfacial drag which these surface spin currents impose on the conduction electrons of the adjacent metallic layer.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Frustration, strain and phase co-existence in the mixed valent hexagonal iridate Ba$_{3}$NaIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$

Using detailed synchrotron diffraction, magnetization, thermodynamic and transport measurements, we investigate the relationship between the mixed valence of Ir, lattice strain and the resultant structural and magnetic ground states in the geometrically frustrated triple perovskite iridate Ba$_{3}$NaIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$. We observe a complex interplay between lattice strain and structural phase co-existence, which is in sharp contrast to what is typically observed in this family of compounds. The low temperature magnetic ground state is characterized by the absence of long range order, and points towards the condensation of a cluster glass state from an extended regime of short range magnetic correlations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Non-van der Waals honeycomb antiferromagnet SrRu$_2$O$_6$ down to a few layers

The current family of experimentally realized two-dimensional magnetic materials consist of 3$d$ transition metals with very weak spin-orbit coupling. In contrast, we report a new platform in a chemically bonded and layered 4$d$ oxide, with strong electron correlations and competing spin-orbit coupling. We synthesize ultra-thin sheets of SrRu$_2$O$_6$ using scalable liquid exfoliation. These exfoliated sheets are characterized by complementary experimental and theoretical techniques. The thickness of the nano-sheets varies between three to five monolayers, and within the first-principles calculations, we show that antiferromagnetism survives in these ultra-thin layers. Experimental data suggest that exfoliation occurs from the planes perpendicular to the $c$-axis as the intervening hexagonal Sr-lattice separates the two-dimensional magnetic honeycomb Ru-layers. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope images indicate that the average inter-atomic spacing between the Ru-layers is slightly reduced, which agrees with the present calculations. The signatures of rotational stacking of the nanosheets are also observed. Such new two-dimensional platform offers enormous possibilities to explore emergent properties that appear due to the interplay between magnetism, strong correlations and spin-orbit coupling. Moreover, these effects can be further tuned as a function of layer thickness.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Phase coexistence and negative thermal expansion in the triple perovskite iridate Ba$_{3}$CoIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$

The anomalous thermal expansion in a layered 3$d$-5$d$ based triple perovskite iridate Ba$_{3}$CoIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$ is investigated using high resolution synchrotron diffraction. Below the magneto-structural transition at 107\,K, the onset of antiferromagnetic order is associated with a monoclinic distortion of the hexagonal structure. Deeper within the magnetically ordered state, a part of the monoclinic phase distorts even further, and both these structural phases co-exist down to the lowest measured temperatures. We observe negative thermal expansion in this phase co-existence regime, which appears to be intimately connected to the temperature driven relative fractions of these monoclinic phases. The significant NTE observed in this system could be driven by magnetic exchange striction, and is of relevance to a number of systems with pronounced spin orbit interactions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Evolution of the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of the triple perovskite Ba$_{3}$CoIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$

We report a comprehensive investigation of the triple perovskite iridate Ba$_{3}$CoIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$. Stabilizing in the hexagonal $P6_{3}/mmc$ symmetry at room temperature, this system transforms to a monoclinic $C2/c$ symmetry at the magnetic phase transition. On further reduction in temperature, the system partially distorts to an even lower symmetry ($P2/c$), with both these structurally disparate phases coexisting down to the lowest measured temperatures. The magnetic structure as determined from neutron diffraction data indicates a weakly canted antiferromagnetic structure, which is also supported by first-principles calculations. Theory indicates that the Ir$^{5+}$ carries a finite magnetic moment, which is also consistent with the neutron data. This suggests that the putative $J=0$ state is avoided. Measurements of heat capacity, electrical resistance noise and dielectric susceptibility all point towards the stabilization of a highly correlated ground state in the Ba$_{3}$CoIr$_{2}$O$_{9}$ system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Growth, Properties, and Applications of Pulsed Laser Deposited Nanolaminate Ti3AlC2 Thin Films

Recently, nanolaminated ternary carbides have attracted immense interest due to the concomitant presence of both ceramic and metallic properties. Here, we grow nanolaminate Ti3AlC2 thin films by pulsed laser deposition on c-axis-oriented sapphire substrates and, surprisingly, the films are found to be highly oriented along the (103) axis normal to the film plane, rather than the (000l) orientation. Multiple characterization techniques are employed to explore the structural and chemical quality of these films, the electrical and optical properties, and the device functionalities. The 80-nm thick Ti3AlC2 film is highly conducting at room temperature (resistivity of 50 micro ohm-cm), and a very-low-temperature coefficient of resistivity. The ultrathin (2 nm) Ti3AlC2 film has fairly good optical transparency and high conductivity at room temperature (sheet resistance of 735 ohm). Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals the metallic characteristics (with finite density of states at the Fermi level) at room temperature. The metal-semiconductor junction of the p-type Ti3AlC2 film and n-Si show the expected rectification (diode) characteristics, in contrast to the ohmic contact behavior in the case of Ti3AlC2 on p-Si. A triboelectric-nanogenerator-based touch-sensing device, comprising of the Ti3AlC2 film, shows a very impressive peak-to-peak open-circuit output voltage of 80 V. These observations reveal that pulsed laser deposited Ti3AlC2 thin films have excellent potential for applications in multiple domains, such as bottom electrodes, resistors for high-precision measurements, Schottky diodes, ohmic contacts, fairly transparent ultrathin conductors, and next-generation biomechanical touch sensors for energy harvesting.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Temperature dependence of the anomalous Nernst effect in Ni$_{2}$MnGa shape memory alloy

We report a detailed investigation of the Ni$_{2}$MnGa shape memory alloy through magnetic, electronic, and thermal measurements. Our measurements of the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) reveal that this technique is very sensitive to the onset of the pre-martensitic transition in sharp contrast to other transport measurements. With the ANE being sensitive to changes at the Fermi surface, we infer on the link between the structural modulations and the modulation of the Fermi surface via its nesting features, with the magnetic field induced strain being the mediating mechanism.

cond-mat.str-el↗