arXiv subjects

T. Siegrist

Publications and source records attributed to T. Siegrist.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Ti$_{1-x}$Au$_x$ Alloys: Hard Biocompatible Metals and Their Possible Applications

The search for new hard materials is often challenging from both theoretical and experimental points of view. Furthermore, using materials for biomedical applications calls for alloys with high biocompatibility which are even more sparse. The Ti$_{1-x}$Au$_x$ ($0.22 \leq x \leq 0.8$) exhibit extreme hardness and strength values, elevated melting temperatures (compared to those of constituent elements), reduced density compared to Au, high malleability, bulk metallicity, high biocompatibility, low wear, reduced friction, potentially high radio opacity, as well as osseointegration. All these properties render the Ti$_{1-x}$Au$_x$ alloys particularly useful for orthopedic, dental, and prosthetic applications, where they could be used as both permanent and temporary components. Additionally, the ability of Ti$_{1-x}$Au$_x$ alloys to adhere to ceramic parts could reduce the weight and cost of these components.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior Close to a Quantum Critical Point in a Ferromagnetic State without Local Moments

A quantum critical point (QCP) occurs upon chemical doping of the weak itinerant ferromagnet Sc_{3.1}In. Remarkable for a system with no local moments, the QCP is accompanied by non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior, manifested in the logarithmic divergence of the specific heat both in the ferro- and the paramagnetic states. Sc_{3.1}In displays critical scaling and NFL behavior in the ferromagnetic state, akin to what had been observed only in f-electron, local moment systems. With doping, critical scaling is observed close to the QCP, as the critical exponents, and delta, gamma and beta have weak composition dependence, with delta nearly twice, and beta almost half of their respective mean-field values. The unusually large paramagnetic moment mu_PM~1.3 mu_B/F.U. is nearly composition-independent. Evidence for strong spin fluctuations, accompanying the QCP at x_c = 0.035 +- 0.005, may be ascribed to the reduced dimensionality of Sc_{3.1}In, associated with the nearly one-dimensional Sc-In chains.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Novel Itinerant Antiferromagnet TiAu

Itinerant and local moment magnetism have substantively different origins, and require distinct theoretical treatment. A unified theory of magnetism has long been sought after, and remains elusive, mainly due to the limited number of known itinerant magnetic systems. In the case of the two such examples discovered several decades ago, the itinerant ferromagnets ZrZn_2 and Sc_3In, the understanding of their magnetic ground states draws on the existence of 3d electrons subject to strong spin fluctuations. Similarly, in Cr, an elemental itinerant antiferromagnet (IAFM) with a spin density wave (SDW) ground state, its 3d character has been deemed crucial to it being magnetic. Here we report the discovery of the first IAFM compound with no magnetic constituents, TiAu. Antiferromagnetic order occurs below a Neel temperature T_N ~ 36 K, about an order of magnitude smaller than in Cr, rendering the spin fluctuations in TiAu more important at low temperatures. This new IAFM challenges the currently limited understanding of weak itinerant antiferromagnetism, while providing long sought-after insights into the effects of spin fluctuations in itinerant electron systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Complex magnetism and strong electronic correlations in Ce2PdGe3

Single crystal x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and electrical resistivity measurements are reported for the new tetragonal compound Ce$_{2}$PdGe$_{3}$, which forms in the space group $P4_{2}/mmc$ (\#131) $-$ a relative of the $α$-ThSi$_2$-type structure. Measurements reveal a two-part antiferromagnetic phase transition at $T_{\rm{N,1}}$ $=$ 10.7 K and $T_{\rm{N,2}}$ $=$ 9.6 K and subsequent ferromagnetic ordering near $T_{\rm{C}}$ $\approx$ 2.25 K. The ordered ground state emerges from a lattice of Ce ions that are hybridized with the conduction electrons, as revealed by the enhanced electronic coefficient of the specific heat $γ$ $\approx$ 50 mJ/mol-Ce-K$^2$ (extrapolated to $T$ $=$ 0 for $T$ $<$ $T_{\rm{C}}$). Electronic structure calculations suggest that there is significant f-electron weight in the density of states near the Fermi energy and that the Fermi surface includes sheets with distinct nesting vectors. Chemical/structural disorder also plays an important role, as evidenced by results from single crystal x-ray diffraction, the width of the peaks in the heat capacity at $T_{\rm{N}}$ and $T_{\rm{C}}$, and the small residual resistivity ratio RRR $=$ $ρ_{\rm{300K}}$/$ρ_{\rm{0}}$ $=$ 1.8.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Anomalous metallic state and anisotropic multiband superconductivity in Nb3Pd0.7Se7

We report the discovery of superconductivity in Nb$_3$Pd$_{x}$Se$_7$ with a $x$-dependent superconducting transition-temperature as high as $T_c \simeq 2.1 $ K for $x \simeq0.7$ (middle point of the resistive transition). Needle-like single crystals display anisotropic upper-critical fields with an anisotropy $γ= H^{b}_{c2}/H^{a}_{c2}$ as large as 6 between fields applied along their needle axis (or $b-$axis) or along the $a-$axis. As for the Fe based superconductors $γ$ is temperature-dependent suggesting that Nb$_3$Pd$_{0.7}$Se$_7$ is a multi-band superconductor. This is supported by band structure calculations which reveal a Fermi surface composed of quasi-one-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional sheets of hole character, as well as three-dimensional sheets of both hole- and electron-character. Remarkably, $H^{b}_{c2}$ is observed to saturate at $H^{b}_{c2}(T \rightarrow 0 \text{K}) \simeq 14.1$ T which is $4.26 \times H_p$ where $H_p$ is the Pauli-limiting field in the weak-coupling regime. The synthesis procedure yields additional crystals belonging to the Nb$_2$Pd$_{x}$Se$_5$ phase which also becomes superconducting when the fraction of Pd is varied. For both phases we find that superconductivity condenses out of an anomalous metallic state, i.e. displaying $\partial ρ/ \partial T < 0$ above $T_c$ similarly to what is observed in the pseudogap-phase of the underdoped cuprates. An anomalous metallic state, low-dimensionality, multi-band character, extremely high and anisotropic $H_{c2}$s, are all ingredients for unconventional superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Superconductivity with extremely large upper critical fields in Nb2Pd0.81S5

Here, we report the discovery of superconductivity in a new transition metal-chalcogenide compound, i.e. Nb2Pd0.81S5, with a transition temperature Tc > 6.6 K. Despite its relatively low Tc, it displays remarkably high and anisotropic superconducting upper critical fields, e.g. mu_0 H_{c2} (T approaching 0 K). 37 T for fields applied along the crystallographic b-axis. For a field applied perpendicularly to the b-axis, mu_0 H_{c2} shows a linear dependence in temperature which coupled to a temperature-dependent anisotropy of the upper critical fields, suggests that Nb2Pd0.81S5 is a multi-band superconductor. This is consistent with band structure calculations which reveal nearly cylindrical and quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surface sheets having hole and electron character, respectively. The static spin susceptibility as calculated through the random phase approximation, reveals strong peaks suggesting proximity to a magnetic state and therefore the possibility of unconventional superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Electron-phonon coupling in DyFeO3 revealed by infrared spectroscopy

We have investigated crystal field and phonon dynamics of the multiferroic orthoferrite DyFeO$_3$ via polarized infrared spectroscopy. Reflectance of single crystals was measured in the far- to mid-infrared spectral range at range of temperatures from 10-295 K. We observe a strongly anisotropic phonon spectrum which differs from earlier lattice dynamical calculations in its symmetry, as well as a mode with significant and unusual temperature dependence that we interpret as a coupled phonon-crystal-field excitation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Disorder-dependent superconducting phase-diagram at high magnetic fields in Fe$_{1 + y}$Se$_{x}$Te$_{1-x}$ ($x \sim 0.4$)

We compare the superconducting phase-diagram under high magnetic fields (up to $H = 45$ T) of Fe$_{1+y}$Se$_{0.4}$Te$_{0.6}$ single crystals originally grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger (BRST) technique, which were annealed to display narrow superconducting transitions and the optimal transition temperature $T_c \gtrsim 14$ K, with the diagram for samples of similar stoichiometry grown by the traveling-solvent floating-zone technique as well as with the phase-diagram reported for crystals grown by a self-flux method. We find that the so-annealed samples tend to display higher ratios $H_{c2}/T_c$, particularly for fields applied along the inter-planar direction, where the upper critical field $H_{c2}(T)$ exhibits a pronounced downward curvature followed by saturation at lower temperatures $T$. This last observation is consistent with previous studies indicating that this system is Pauli limited. An analysis of our $H_{c2}(T)$ data using a multiband theory suggests the emergence of the Farrel-Fulde-Larkin-Ovchnikov state at low temperatures. A detailed structural x-ray analysis, reveals no impurity phases but an appreciable degree of mosaicity in as-grown BRST single-crystals which remains unaffected by the annealing process. Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis showed that the annealed samples have a more homogeneous stoichiometric distribution of both Fe and Se with virtually the same content of interstitial Fe as the non-annealed ones. Thus, we conclude that stoichiometric disorder, in contrast to structural disorder, is detrimental to the superconducting phase diagram of this series under high magnetic fields. Finally, a scaling analysis of the fluctuation conductivity in the superconducting critical regime, suggests that the superconducting fluctuations have a two-dimensional character in this system.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Tin telluride: a weakly co-elastic metal

We report resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS), dilatometry/magnetostriction, magnetotransport, magnetization, specific heat, and $^{119}$Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on SnTe and Sn$_{0.995}$Cr$_{0.005}$Te. Hall measurements at $T=77$ K indicate that our Bridgman-grown single crystals have a $p$-type carrier concentration of $3.4 \times 10^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$ and that our Cr-doped crystals have an $n$-type concentration of $5.8 \times 10^{22}$ cm$^{-3}$. Although our SnTe crystals are diamagnetic over the temperature range $2\, \text{K} \leq T \leq 1100\, \text{K}$, the Cr-doped crystals are room temperature ferromagnets with a Curie temperature of 294 K. For each sample type, three-terminal capacitive dilatometry measurements detect a subtle 0.5 micron distortion at $T_c \approx 85$ K. Whereas our RUS measurements on SnTe show elastic hardening near the structural transition, pointing to co-elastic behavior, similar measurements on Sn$_{0.995}$Cr$_{0.005}$Te show a pronounced softening, pointing to ferroelastic behavior. Effective Debye temperature, $θ_D$, values of SnTe obtained from $^{119}$Sn Mössbauer studies show a hardening of phonons in the range 60--115K ($θ_D$ = 162K) as compared with the 100--300K range ($θ_D$ = 150K). In addition, a precursor softening extending over approximately 100 K anticipates this collapse at the critical temperature, and quantitative analysis over three decades of its reduced modulus finds $ΔC_{44}/C_{44}=A|(T-T_0)/T_0|^{-κ}$ with $κ= 0.50 \pm 0.02 $, a value indicating a three-dimensional softening of phonon branches at a temperature $T_0 \sim 75$ K, considerably below $T_c$. We suggest that the differences in these two types of elastic behaviors lie in the absence of elastic domain wall motion in the one case and their nucleation in the other.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Large Negative Thermal Expansion in Pentacene due to Steric Hindrance

The uniaxial negative thermal expansion in pentacene crystals along $a$ is a particularity in the series of the oligoacenes, and exeptionally large for a crystalline solid. Full x-ray structure analysis from 120 K to 413 K reveals that the dominant thermal motion is a libration of the rigid molecules about their long axes, modifying the intermolecular angle which describes the herringbone packing within the layers. This herringbone angle increases with temperature (by 0.3 -- 0.6$^{\circ}$ per 100 K), and causes an anisotropic rearrangement of the molecules within the layers, i.e. an expansion in the $b$ direction, and a distinct contraction along $a$. Additionally, a larger herringbone angle improves the cofacial overlap between adjacent, parallel molecules, and thus enhances the attractive van der Waals forces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Sharp switching of the magnetization in Fe1/4TaS2

Anisotropic magneto-transport measurements are reported on Fe1/4TaS2 single crystals grown by vapor transport. Both the magnetization and resistivity are extremely anisotropic, with the magnetic moments aligned parallel to the c crystallographic direction. Fe1/4TaS2 orders ferromagnetically below TC = 160 K and displays very sharp hysteresis loops in the ordered state for H||c. The corresponding magnetoresistance is negative, and it qualitatively reproduces the features observed in the M(H) data, by showing a sharp drop around the critical field Hs for the moment reversal. The magnetization switching time shows an unusual increase with increasing temperature. For field applied within the ab plane, the magnetization remains small and linear in field up to 5 T, and the magnetoresistance is positive and quadratic in field, with no visible hysteresis. The squareness of the H||c M(H) loops and the high critical field for the magnetization switch (Hs = 3.7 T at T = 2 K) allow us to classify Fe1/4TaS2 as a strong ferromagnet.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Hole crystallization in the spin ladder of Sr14Cu24O41

One of the deepest questions in condensed matter physics concerns what other phases compete with superconductivity in high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors. One candidate is the "stripe" phase, in which the carriers (holes) condense into rivers of charge separating regions of antiferromagnetism. A related but lesser known system is the "spin ladder", which consists of two coupled chains of magnetic ions forming an array of rungs. A doped ladder can be thought of as a high-Tc material with lower dimensionality, and has been predicted to exhibit both superconductivity and an insulating "hole crystal" phase in which the carriers are localised through many-body interactions. The competition between the two resembles that between static stripes and superconductivity in high-Tc materials. Here we report evidence, from resonant x-ray scattering, for the existence of a hole crystal in the doped spin ladder of Sr14Cu24O41. This phase exists without a detectable distortion in the structural lattice, indicating it arises from many-body effects. Our measurements confirm theoretical predictions and support the picture that proximity to charge ordered states is a general property of superconductivity in copper-oxides.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Amorphous-like Density of Gap States in Single Crystal Pentacene

We show that optical and electrical measurements on pentacene single crystals can be used to extract the density of states in the HOMO-LUMO bandgap. It is found that these highly purified crystals possess band tails broader than those typically observed in inorganic amorphous solids. Results on field effect transistors (FETs) fabricated from similar crystals are also compared. The FET data imply that the gap state density is much larger within 5-10 nm of the gate dielectric. These results are discussed in terms of both crystal phase domains and structural disorder mechanisms.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Inhomogeneous CuO_{6} Tilt Distribution and Charge/Spin Correlations in La_{2-x-y}Nd_{y}Sr_{x}CuO$_{4} around commensurate hole concentration

Phononic and magnetic Raman scattering are studied in La$_{2-x-y}$Nd$_{y}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ with three doping concentrations: x ~ 1/8, y = 0; x ~ 1/8, y = 0.4; and x = 0.01, y = 0. We observe strong disorder in the tilt pattern of the CuO_{6} octahedra in both the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases which persist down to 10 K and are coupled to bond disorder in the cation layers around 1/8 doping independent of Nd concentration. The weak magnitude of existing charge/spin modulations in the Nd doped structure does not allow us to detect the specific Raman signatures on lattice dynamics or two-magnon scattering around 2200 cm-1.

cond-mat.str-el↗