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T. Imai

Publications and source records attributed to T. Imai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

$^{139}$La NMR investigation of the interplay between the lattice, charge, and spin dynamics in charge ordered high $T_c$ cuprate La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$

We investigate the interplay between the lattice, charge, and spin dynamics in charge ordered high $T_c$ cuprate La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$ ($T_{c} =4$~K) based on the inverse Laplace transform (ILT) analysis of the $^{139}$La nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ (dubbed ILTT$_{1}$ analysis here after). A major thrust of the ILTT$_{1}$ analysis is that one can deduce the probability density function $P(1/T_1)$ of distributed $1/T_1$. We demonstrate that $1/T_{1}^{lm}$, defined as the log-mean (i.e. the center of gravity on a logarithmic scale) of $P(1/T_1)$, can be well approximated by $1/T_{1}^{str}$ deduced from the phenomenological stretched fit, however, $P(1/T_1)$ can provide much richer insight into how the lattice, charge, and spin fluctuations and their distribution develop near and below the long range charge order at $T_{charge} \sim 54$~K. Upon entering the charge ordered state, a divergent increase of $1/T_{1}^{lm}$ toward the spin ordering at $T_{spin}^{\mu SR} \simeq 35$~K is accompanied by an asymmetric broadening of $P(1/T_1)$. Even deep inside the charge ordered state, $1/T_{1}$ at a gradually diminishing fraction of $^{139}$La sites continues to slow down as temperature is lowered, as expected for canonical superconducting CuO$_2$ planes without enhanced spin fluctuations. The fraction of such canonical $^{139}$La sites almost disappears by $\simeq 40$~K. In contrast, nearly a half of the $^{139}$La sites in La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_{4}$ ($T_{charge} \simeq 80$~K) still exhibits the canonical behavior without enhanced spin fluctuations even near its $T_{c} = 31$~K. These contrasting behaviors explain why superconductivity in La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$ is more strongly suppressed than in La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_{4}$ despite the lower onset temperature of the charge order.

cond-mat.str-el

Revisiting the $^{63}$Cu NMR signature of charge order in La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$

We use single crystal $^{63}$Cu NMR techniques to revisit the early $^{63}$Cu NQR signature of charge order observed for La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$ ($T_{\text{c}} =4$~K) [A. W. Hunt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 82}, 4300 (1999)]. We show that the growth of spin correlations is accelerated below $\sim 80$~K, where the inverse Laplace transform (ILT) T$_{1}$ analysis of the $^{139}$La NMR spin-lattice relaxation curve recently uncovered emergence of the slow components in the lattice and/or charge fluctuations [P. M. Singer et al., {\bf 101}, 174508 (2020)]. From the accurate measurements of the $^{63}$Cu NMR signal intensity, spin echo decay $M(2\tau)$, spin-lattice relaxation rate $^{63}1/T_1$, and its density distribution function $P(^{63}1/T_{1})$, we also demonstrate that charge order at $T_{\text{charge}}\simeq 54$~K turns on strong enhancement of spin fluctuations {\it within charge ordered domains}, thereby making the CuO$_2$ planes extremely inhomogeneous. The charge ordered domains grow quickly below $T_{\text{charge}}$, and the volume fraction $F_{\text{CA}}$ of the canonical domains unaffected by charge order gradually diminishes by $\sim 35$~K. This finding agrees with our independent estimations of $F_{\text{CA}}$ based entirely on the $^{139}$La ILTT$_{1}$ analyses, but is in a stark contrast with much slower growth of charge ordered domains observed for La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_{4}$ from its $T_{\text{charge}}\simeq 80$~K to $T_{\text{c}}\simeq 30$~K.

cond-mat.supr-con

Observation of a cubic Rashba effect in the surface spin structure of rare-earth ternary materials

Spin-orbit interaction and structure inversion asymmetry in combination with magnetic ordering is a promising route to novel materials with highly mobile spin-polarized carriers at the surface. Spin-resolved measurements of the photoemission current from the Si-terminated surface of the antiferromagnet TbRh2Si2 and their analysis within an ab initio one-step theory unveil an unusual triple winding of the electron spin along the fourfold-symmetric constant energy contours of the surface states. A two-band k.p model is presented that yields the triple winding as a cubic Rashba effect. The curious in-plane spin-momentum locking is remarkably robust and remains intact across a paramagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition in spite of spin-orbit interaction on Rh atoms being considerably weaker than the out-of-plane exchange field due to the Tb 4f moments.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Distribution of the magnetic environment in charge ordered La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_{4}$

We report the inverse Laplace transform (ILT) analysis of the $^{139}$La nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ in charge ordered La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$ ($T_{charge} \sim 80$K, $T_{c} \simeq T_{spin}^{neutron}=30$K), and shed new light on its magnetic inhomogeneity. We deduce the probability density function $P(1/T_{1})$ of the distributed $1/T_1$ (i.e. the histogram of distributed $1/T_1$) by taking the inverse Laplace transform of the experimentally observed nuclear magnetization recovery curve $M(t)$. We demonstrate that spin freezing sets in in some domains precisely below the onset of charge order at $T_{charge}$, but their volume fraction grows only gradually toward $T_{c}$. Nearly a half of the sample volume exhibits properties expected for canonical high $T_c$ cuprates without charge order even near $T_c$. Our findings explain why charge order does not suppress $T_c$ of La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$ as significantly as in La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Low frequency spin dynamics in XY quantum spin ice Yb$_2$Pt$_2$O$_7$

The XY pyrochlore Yb$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$, with pseudo spin 1/2 at the Yb$^{3+}$ site, has been celebrated as potential host for the quantum spin ice state. The substitution of non-magnetic Ti with Pt gives Yb$_2$Pt$_2$O$_7$, a system with remarkably similar magnetic properties. The large nuclear gyromagnetic ratio ($γ_{n}/2 π= 9.15$~MHz/T) of $^{195}$Pt makes Yb$_2$Pt$_2$O$_7$ an ideal material for NMR investigation of its unconventional magnetic properties. Based on the $^{195}$Pt nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ and the magnetic specific heat $C_{p}$ measured in a broad range of magnetic field $B_{ext}$, we demonstrate that the field-induced magnon gap linearly decreases with $B_{ext}$ but additional low energy mode of spin excitations emerge below $\sim 0.5$~T.

cond-mat.str-el

$^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu NMR investigation of charge order in La$_{2}$CuO$_{4+y}$ ($T_{c}=42$K)

We report $^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu NMR investigation of the successive charge order, spin order, and superconducting transitions in super-oxygenated La$_2$CuO$_{4+y}$ single crystal with stage-4 excess oxygen order at $T_{stage}\simeq 290$ K. We show that the stage-4 order induces tilting of CuO$_6$ octahedra below $T_{stage}$, which in turn causes $^{139}$La NMR line broadening. The structural distortion continues to develop far below $T_{stage}$, and completes at $T_{charge}\simeq 60$ K, where charge order sets in. This sequence is reminiscent of the the charge order transition in Nd co-doped La$_{1.88}$Sr$_{0.12}$CuO$_4$ that sets in once the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase is established. We also show that the paramagnetic $^{63}$Cu NMR signals are progressively wiped out below $T_{charge}$ due to enhanced low frequency spin fluctuations, but the residual $^{63}$Cu NMR signals continue to exhibit the characteristics expected for optimally doped superconducting CuO$_2$ planes. This indicates that charge order in La$_2$CuO$_{4+y}$ does not take place uniformly in space. Low frequency Cu spin fluctuations as probed by $^{139}$La nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate are mildly glassy, and do not exhibit critical divergence at $T_{spin}$($\simeq T_{c}$)=42 K. These findings, including the spatially inhomogeneous nature of the charge ordered state, are qualitatively similar to the case of La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$ [T. Imai et al., Phys. Rev. B 96 (2017) 224508, and A. Arsenault et al., Phys. Rev. B 97 (2018) 064511], but both charge and spin order take place more sharply in the present case.

cond-mat.supr-con

$^{17}$O NMR study of charge ordered La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$

We successfully isolated the $^{17}$O NMR signals at the planar sites in La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$ ($T_{c}=30$ K) by applying an external magnetic field along the Cu-O-Cu bond direction of a single crystal. We demonstrate that charge order enhances incommensurate Cu spin fluctuations below $T_{charge} \simeq 80$ K.

cond-mat.supr-con

Revisiting $^{63}$Cu NMR evidence for charge order in superconducting La$_{1.885}$Sr$_{0.115}$CuO$_4$

The presence of charge and spin stripe order in the La2CuO4-based family of superconductors continues to lead to new insight on the unusual ground state properties of high Tc cuprates. Soon after the discovery of charge stripe order at T(charge)=65K in Nd3+ co-doped LSCO ($T_{c}\simeq6$~K) [Tranquada et al., Nature {\bf 375} (1995) 561], Hunt et al. demonstrated that La$_{1.48}$Nd$_{0.4}$Sr$_{0.12}$CuO$_4$ and superconducting LSCO with x~1/8 (Tc ~ 30K) share nearly identical NMR anomalies near $T_{charge}$ of the former [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 82} (1999) 4300]. Their inevitable conclusion that LSCO also undergoes charge order at a comparable temperature became controversial, because diffraction measurements at the time were unable to detect Bragg peaks associated with charge order. Recent advances in x-ray diffraction techniques finally led to definitive confirmations of the charge order Bragg peaks in LSCO with an onset at as high as T(charge)=80K. Meanwhile, improved instrumental technology has enabled routine NMR measurements that were not feasible two decades ago. Motivated by these new developments, we revisit the charge order transition of a LSCO single crystal based on 63Cu NMR techniques. We demonstrate that 63Cu NMR properties of the nuclear spin $I_{z}$ = -1/2 to +1/2 central transition below T(charge) exhibit unprecedentedly strong dependence on the measurement time scale set by the NMR pulse separation time $τ$; a new kind of anomalous, very broad wing-like 63Cu NMR signals gradually emerge below T(charge) only for extremely short $τ\lesssim 4~μ$s, while the spectral weight of the normal NMR signals is progressively wiped out. The NMR linewidth and relaxation rates depend strongly on $τ$ below T(charge), and their enhancement in the charge ordered state indicates that charge order turns on strong but inhomogeneous growth of Cu spin-spin correlations.

cond-mat.supr-con

Evidence for a Gapped Spin-Liquid Ground State in a Kagome Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

The kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet is a leading candidate in the search for a spin system with a quantum spin-liquid ground state. The nature of its ground state remains a matter of great debate. We conducted 17-O single crystal NMR measurements of the S=1/2 kagome lattice in herbertsmithite ZnCu$_3$(OH)$_6$Cl$_2$, which is known to exhibit a spinon continuum in the spin excitation spectrum. We demonstrate that the intrinsic local spin susceptibility $χ_{kagome}$ deduced from the 17-O NMR frequency shift asymptotes to zero below temperature T ~ 0.03 J, where J ~ 200 K is the Cu-Cu super-exchange interaction. Combined with the magnetic field dependence of $χ_{kagome}$ we observed at low temperatures, these results imply that the kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet has a spin-liquid ground state with a finite gap.

cond-mat.str-el

NMR Investigation of the Quasi One-dimensional Superconductor K$_{2}$Cr$_{3}$As$_{3}$

We report $^{75}$As NMR measurements on the new quasi one-dimensional superconductor K$_{2}$Cr$_{3}$As$_{3}$ ($T_{c} \sim 6.1$~K) [J.\ K.\ Bao et al., Phys. Rev. X {\bf 5}, 011013 (2015)]. We found evidence for strong enhancement of Cr spin fluctuations above $T_c$ in the [Cr$_{3}$As$_{3}$]$_{\infty}$ double-walled subnano-tubes based on the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_{1}$. The power law temperature dependence, $1/T_{1}T \sim T^{-γ}$ ($γ\sim 0.25$), is consistent with the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. Moreover, absence of the Hebel-Slichter coherence peak of $1/T_{1}$ just below $T_{c}$ suggests unconventional nature of superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con

Cu substitution effects on the local magnetic properties of Ba(Fe_[1-x]Cu_[x])2As2: a site-selective 75-As and 63-Cu NMR study

We take advantage of the site-selective nature of the $^{75}$As and $^{63}$Cu NMR techniques to probe the Cu substitution effects on the local magnetic properties of the FeAs planes in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_2$As$_2$. We show that the suppression of antiferromagnetic Fe spin fluctuations induced by Cu substitution is weaker than a naive expectation based on a simple rigid band picture, in which each Cu atom would donate 3 electrons to the FeAs planes. Comparison between $^{63}$Cu and $^{75}$As NMR data indicates that spin fluctuations are suppressed at the Cu and their neighboring Fe sites in the tetragonal phase, suggesting the strongly local nature of the Cu substitution effects. We attribute the absence of a large superconducting dome in the phase diagram of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ to the emergence of a nearly magnetically ordered FeAs planes under the presence of orthorhombic distortion.

cond-mat.supr-con

NMR investigation of spin correlations in BaCo2As2

We use NMR techniques to investigate the magnetic properties of BaCo2As2 single crystals, the non-superconducting end member of the Co-substituted iron-pnictide high Tc superconductor Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 with x = 1. We present 75As NMR evidence for enhancement of low frequency spin fluctuations below ~ 100 K. This enhancement is accompanied by that of static uniform spin susceptibility at the wave vector q = 0, suggesting that the primary channel of the spin correlations is ferromagnetic rather than antiferromagnetic. Comparison between the NMR Knight shift 75K and bulk susceptibility chi(bulk) data uncovers the presence of two separate components of spin susceptibility with distinct temperature dependences, presumably because multiple electronic bands crossing the Fermi energy play different roles in the electronic properties of BaCo2As2.

cond-mat.supr-con

Critical Behavior of the SDW Transition in Underdoped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (x <=0.05): 75As NMR Investigation

We investigate the nature of the SDW (Spin Density Wave) transition in the underdoped regime of an iron-based high Tc superconductor Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 by 75As NMR, with primary focus on a composition with x = 0.02 (T_SDW = 99 K).We demonstrate that critical slowing down toward the three dimensional SDW transition sets in at the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition, Ts = 105 K, suggesting strong interplay between structural distortion and spin correlations. In the critical regime between Ts and T_SDW, the dynamical structure factor of electron spins S(q,Wn) measured with the longitudinal NMR relaxation rate 1/T1 exhibits a divergent behavior obeying a power law, 1/T1~S(q, Wn)~(T/T_SDW-1)^a with the critical exponent a ~ 0.33.

cond-mat.supr-con

Evolution of Quantum Fluctuations Near the Quantum Critical Point of the Transverse Field Ising Chain System CoNb$_2$O$_6$

The transverse field Ising chain (TFIC) model is ideally suited for testing the fundamental ideas of quantum phase transitions, because its well-known $T=0$ ground state can be extrapolated to finite temperatures. Nonetheless, the lack of appropriate model materials hindered the past effort to test the theoretical predictions. Here we map the evolution of quantum fluctuations in the TFIC based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements of CoNb$_2$O$_6$, and demonstrate the finite temperature effects on quantum criticality for the first time. From the temperature dependence of the $^{93}$Nb longitudinal relaxation rate $1/T_1$, we identify the renormalized classical, quantum critical, and quantum disordered scaling regimes in the temperature ($T$) vs. transverse magnetic field ($h_{\perp}$) phase diagram. Precisely at the critical field $h_{\perp}^{c}=5.25 \pm 0.15$ T, we observe a power-law behavior, $1/T_{1} \sim T^{-3/4}$, as predicted by quantum critical scaling. Our parameter-free comparison between the data and theory reveals that quantum fluctuations persist up to as high as $T \sim 0.4 J$, where the intra-chain exchange interaction $J$ is the only energy scale of the problem.

cond-mat.str-el

Local magnetism and spin correlations in the geometrically frustrated cluster magnet LiZn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$

LiZn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ has been proposed to contain $S~=~1/2$ Mo$_3$O$_{13}$ magnetic clusters arranged on a triangular lattice with antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions. Here, microwave and terahertz electron spin resonance (ESR), $^7$Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and muon spin rotation ($μ\textrm{SR}$) spectroscopies are used to characterize the local magnetic properties of LiZn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$. These results show the magnetism in LiZn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ arises from a single isotropic $S~=~1/2$ electron per cluster and that there is no static long-range magnetic ordering down to $T~=~0.07\,\textrm{K}$. Further, there is evidence of gapless spin excitations with spin fluctuations slowing down as the temperature is lowered. These data indicate strong spin correlations which, together with previous data, suggest a low-temperature resonating valence-bond state in LiZn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$.

cond-mat.str-el

NMR Investigation of the Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Li(Zn1-xMnx)P (x = 0.1)

We employ NMR techniques to investigate the nature of Mn spins in the I-II-V diluted magnetic semiconductor Li(Zn1-xMnx)P (x = 0.1, Curie temperature Tc = 25 K). We successfully identify the 7Li NMR signals arising from the Li sites adjacent to Mn2+, and probe the static and dynamic properties of Mn spins. From the NMR spin-lattice relaxation data, we show that the Mn spin-spin interactions extend over many unit cells.

cond-mat.str-el

(La1-xBax)(Zn1-xMnx)AsO: A Two Dimensional "1111" Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor in Bulk Form

We report the synthesis and characterization of a bulk diluted magnetic semiconductor (La1-xBax)(Zn1-xMnx)AsO (0 <= x <= 0.2) with a layered crystal structure identical to that of the "1111" FeAs superconductors. No ferromagnetic order occurs for (Zn,Mn) substitution in the parent compound LaZnAsO without charge doping. Together with carrier doping via (La,Ba) sub- stitution, a small amount of Mn substituting for Zn results in ferromagnetic order with TC up to ~40 K, although the system remains semiconducting. Muon spin relaxation measurements confirm the development of ferromagnetic order in the entire volume, with the relationship between the internal field and TC consistent with the trend found in (Ga,Mn)As, the "111" Li(Zn,Mn)As, and the "122" (Ba,K)(Zn,Mn)2As2 systems.

cond-mat.str-el

NMR Search for the Spin Nematic State in LaFeAsO Single Crystal

We report a 75-As single crystal NMR investigation of LaFeAsO, the parent phase of a pnictide high Tc superconductor. We demonstrate that spin dynamics develop a strong two-fold anisotropy within each orthorhombic domain below the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural phase transition at T[TO]~156 K. This intermediate state with a dynamical breaking of the rotational symmetry freezes progressively into a spin density wave (SDW) below T[SDW]~142 K. Our findings are consistent with the presence of a spin nematic state below T[TO] with an incipient magnetic order.

cond-mat.supr-con