arXiv subjects

Takahito Terashima

Publications and source records attributed to Takahito Terashima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Growth of self-integrated atomic quantum wires and junctions of a Mott semiconductor

Continued advances in quantum technologies rely on producing nanometer-scale wires. Although several state-of-the-art nanolithographic technologies and bottom-up synthesis processes have been used to engineer such wires, critical challenges remain in growing uniform atomic-scale crystalline wires and constructing their network structures. Here we discover a simple method to fabricate atomic-scale wires with various arrangements, including stripes, X-, Y-junctions, and nanorings. Single-crystalline atomic-scale wires of a Mott insulator, whose band gap is comparable to those of wide-gap semiconductors, are spontaneously grown on graphite substrates \DEL{and epitaxial monolayer graphene on SiC }by pulsed-laser deposition. These wires are one-unit-cell-thick and have an exact width of two- and four-unit-cells (1.4 and 2.8\,nm) and lengths up to a few $μm$. We show that the non-equilibrium reaction-diffusion processes may play an essential role in atomic pattern formation. Our findings offer a new perspective on the non-equilibrium self-organization phenomena on an atomic scale, paving a unique way for the quantum architecture of nano-network.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Controlling unconventional superconductivity in artificially engineered $f$-electron Kondo superlattices

Unconventional superconductivity and magnetism are intertwined on a microscopic level in a wide class of materials, including high-$T_c$ cuprates, iron pnictides, and heavy-fermion compounds. A new approach to this most fundamental and hotly debated subject focuses on the role of interactions between superconducting electrons and bosonic fluctuations at the interface between adjacent layers in heterostructures. A recent state-of-the-art molecular-beam-epitaxy technique has enabled us to fabricate superlattices consisting of different heavy-fermion compounds with atomic thickness. These Kondo superlattices provide a unique opportunity to study the mutual interaction between unconventional superconductivity and magnetic order through the atomic interface. Here, we design and fabricate hybrid Kondo superlattices consisting of alternating layers of superconducting CeCoIn$_5$ with $d$-wave pairing symmetry and nonmagnetic metal YbCoIn$_5$ or antiferromagnetic heavy fermion metals, such as CeRhIn$_5$ and CeIn$_3$. In these Kondo superlattices, superconducting heavy electrons are confined within the two-dimensional CeCoIn$_5$ block layers and interact with the neighboring nonmagnetic or magnetic layers through the interface. In CeCoIn$_5$/YbCoIn$_5$ superlattices, the superconductivity is strongly influenced by the local inversion symmetry breaking at the interface. In CeCoIn$_5$/CeRhIn$_5$ and CeCoIn$_5$/CeIn$_3$ superlattices, the superconducting and antiferromagnetic states coexist in spatially separated layers, but their mutual coupling via the interface significantly modifies the superconducting and magnetic properties. The fabrication of a wide variety of hybrid superlattices paves a new way to study the relationship between unconventional superconductivity and magnetism in strongly correlated materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Molecular beam epitaxy growth of the highly conductive oxide SrMoO$_3$

SrMoO$_3$ is a promising material for its excellent electrical conductivity, but growing high-quality thin films remains a challenge. Here we synthesized epitaxial films of SrMoO$_3$ using the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique under a low oxygen-flow rate. Introduction of SrTiO$_3$ buffer layers of 4--8 unit cells between the film and the (001)-oriented SrTiO$_3$ or KTaO$_3$ substrate was crucial to remove impurities and/or roughness of the film surface. The obtained film shows improved electrical conductivities as compared with films obtained by other techniques. The high quality of the SrMoO$_3$ film is also verified by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements showing clear Fermi surfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Epitaxial stabilization of SrCu$_3$O$_4$ with infinite Cu$_{3/2}$O$_2$ layers

We report the epitaxial thin film synthesis of SrCu$_3$O$_4$ with infinitely stacked Cu$_3$O$_4$ layers composed of edge-sharing CuO$_4$ square-planes, using molecular beam epitaxy. Experimental and theoretical characterizations showed that this material is a metastable phase that can exist by applying tensile biaxial strain from the (001)-SrTiO$_3$ substrate. SrCu$_3$O$_4$ shows an insulating electrical resistivity in accordance with the Cu$^{2+}$ valence state revealed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. First-principles calculations also indicated that the unoccupied $d_{3z^2-r^2}$ band becomes substantially stabilized owing to the absence of apical anions, in contrast to $A_2$Cu$_3$O$_4$Cl$_2$ ($A = $Sr, Ba) with an $A_2$Cl$_2$ block layer and therefore a trans-CuO$_4$Cl$_2$ octahedron. These results suggest that SrCu$_3$O$_4$ is a suitable parent material for electron-doped superconductivity based on the Cu$_3$O$_4$ plane.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Hidden Ladder in SrMoO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ Superlattices: Experiments and Theoretical Calculations

A double-layered perovskite oxide Sr$_3$Mo$_2$O$_7$ is considered a "hidden ladder" system with wide and narrow bands near the Fermi level, for which high-$T_{\rm c}$ superconductivity is expected. However, the difficulty in synthesis, especially in the preparation of samples without oxygen deficiency, can hinder the observation of superconductivity. In this study, we constructed a double-layer SrMoO$_3$ block through artificial superlattices with the insulating SrTiO$_3$ block, (SrMoO$_3$)$_m$/(SrTiO$_3$)$_t$ ($m = 2, 4$; $t = 4$). First-principles calculations for bilayered SrMoO$_3$ ($m = 2$) exhibit a wide-narrow band structure near the Fermi level, which bears a close resemblance to Sr$_3$Mo$_2$O$_7$. The dispersion along the $k_z$ direction is strongly suppressed by increasing the number of the SrTiO$_3$ layers, $t$. However, no superconductivity is observed down to 0.1 K. We discuss the absence of the superconductivity for the present films on the basis of results of scanning transmission electron microscopy and band structure calculations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Spontaneous emergence of Josephson junctions in homogeneous rings of single-crystal Sr2RuO4

The chiral p-wave order parameter in Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$ would make it a special case amongst the unconventional superconductors. A consequence of this symmetry is the possible existence of superconducting domains of opposite chirality. At the boundary of such domains, the locally supressed condensate can produce an intrinsic Josephson junction. Here, we provide evidence of such junctions using mesoscopic rings, structured from Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$ single crystals. Our order parameter simulations predict such rings to host stable domain walls across their arms. Thisis verified with transport experiments on loops, with a sharp transition at 1.5 K, which show distinct critical current oscillations with periodicity corresponding to the flux quantum. In contrast, loops with broadened transitions at around 3 K are void of such junctions and show standard Little-Parks oscillations. Our analysis demonstrates the junctions are of intrinsic origin and makes a compelling case for the existence of superconducting domains.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Universal relationship between low-energy antiferromagnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$

To identify the key parameter for optimal superconductivity in iron pnictides, we measured the $^{31}$P-NMR relaxation rate on BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$ ($x = 0.22$ and 0.28) under pressure and compared the effects of chemical substitution and physical pressure. For $x = 0.22$, structural and antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperatures both show minimal changes with pressure up to 2.4~GPa, whereas the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ increases to twice its former value. In contrast, for $x=0.28$ near the AFM quantum critical point (QCP), the structural phase transition is quickly suppressed by pressure and $T_{\rm c}$ reaches a maximum. The analysis of the temperature-dependent nuclear relaxation rate indicates that these contrasting behaviors can be quantitatively explained by a single curve of the $T_{\rm c}$ dome as a function of Weiss temperature $θ$, which measures the distance to the QCP. Moreover, the $T_{\rm c}$-$θ$ curve under pressure precisely coincides with that with chemical substitution, which is indicative of the existence of a universal relationship between low-energy AFM fluctuations and superconductivity on BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Modification of magnetic fluctuations by interfacial interactions in artificially engineered heavy-fermion superlattices

Recent progress in the fabrication techniques of superlattices (SLs) has made it possible to sandwich several-layer-thick block layers (BLs) of heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 between conventional-metal YbCoIn5 BLs or spin-density-wave-metal CeRhIn5 BLs of a similar thickness. However, the magnetic state in each BL, particularly at the interface, is not yet understood, as experimental techniques applicable to the SL system are limited. Here, we report measurements of 59Co nuclear magnetic resonance, which is a microscopic probe of the magnetic properties inside the target BLs. In the CeCoIn5/YbCoIn5 SL, the low-temperature magnetic fluctuations of the CeCoIn5 BL are weakened as expected from the Rashba spin-orbit effect. However, in the CeCoIn5/CeRhIn5 SL, the fluctuations show an anomalous enhancement below 6 K, highlighting the importance of the magnetic proximity effect occurring near a magnetic-ordering temperature TN ~ 3 K of the CeRhIn5 BL. We suggest that the magnetic properties of the BLs can be altered by the interfacial interaction, which is an alternative route to modify the magnetic properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Direct Evidence for the Existence of Heavy Quasiparticles in the Magnetically Ordered Phase of CeRhIn$_5$

It is a long-standing important issue in heavy fermion physics whether $f$-electrons are itinerant or localized when the magnetic order occurs. Here we report the {\it in situ} scanning tunneling microscopy observation of the electronic structure in epitaxial thin films of CeRhIn$_5$, a prototypical heavy fermion compound with antiferromagnetic ground state. The conductance spectra above the Néel temperature $T_N$ clearly resolve the energy gap due to the hybridization between local 4$f$ electrons and conduction bands as well as the crystal electric field excitations. These structures persist even below $T_N$. Moreover, an additional dip in the conductance spectra develops due to the antiferromagnetic order. These results provide direct evidence for the presence of itinerant heavy $f$-electrons participating in the Fermi surface even in the magnetically ordered state of CeRhIn$_5$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

In Situ STM Observation of Nonmagnetic Impurity Effect in MBE-grown CeCoIn$_5$ Films

Local electronic effects in the vicinity of an impurity provide pivotal insight into the origin of unconventional superconductivity, especially when the materials are located on the edge of magnetic instability. In high-temperature cuprate superconductors, a strong suppression of superconductivity and appearance of low-energy bound states are clearly observed near nonmagnetic impurities. However, whether these features are common to other strongly correlated superconductors has not been established experimentally. Here, we report the {$in$} {$situ$} scanning tunneling microscopy observation of electronic structure around a nonmagnetic Zn impurity in heavy-fermion CeCo(In$_{1-x}$Zn$_x$)$_5$ films, which are epitaxially grown by the state-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy technique. The films have very wide atomically flat terraces and Zn atoms residing on two different In sites are clearly resolved. Remarkably, no discernible change is observed for the superconducting gap at and around the Zn atoms. Moreover, the local density of states around Zn atoms shows little change inside the $c$-$f$ hybridization gap, which is consistent with calculations for a periodic Anderson model without local magnetic order. These results indicate that no nonsuperconducting region is induced around a Zn impurity and do not support the scenario of antiferromagnetic droplet formation suggested by indirect measurements in Cd-doped CeCoIn$_5$. These results also highlight a significant difference of the impurity effect between cuprates and CeCoIn$_5$, in both of which $d$-wave superconductivity arises from the non-Fermi liquid normal state near antiferromagnetic instabilities.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Little-Parks oscillations with half-quantum fluxoid features in Sr2RuO4 micro rings

In a micro ring of a superconductor with a spin-triplet equal-spin pairing state, a fluxoid, a combined object of magnetic flux and circulating supercurrent, can penetrate as half-integer multiples of the flux quantum. A candidate material to investigate such half-quantum fluxoids is Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$. We fabricated Sr$_\mathsf{2}$RuO$_\mathsf{4}$ micro rings using single crystals and measured their resistance behavior under magnetic fields controlled with a three-axes vector magnet. Proper Little-Parks oscillations in the magnetovoltage as a function of an axially applied field, associated with fluxoid quantization are clearly observed, for the first time using bulk single crystalline superconductors. We then performed magnetovoltage measurements with additional in-plane magnetic fields. By carefully analyzing both the voltages $V_+$ ($V_-$) measured at positive (negative) current, we find that, above an in-plane threshold field of about 10 mT, the magnetovoltage maxima convert to minima. We interpret this behavior as the peak splitting expected for the half-quantum fluxoid states.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Magnetic and superconducting properties of the heavy-fermion CeCoIn5 epitaxial film probed by nuclear quadrupole resonance

Since the progress in the fabrication techniques of thin-films of exotic materials such as strongly correlated heavy-fermion compounds, microscopic studies of the magnetic and electronic properties inside the films have been needed. Herein, we report the first observation of 115In nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) in an epitaxial film of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5, for which the microscopic field gradient within the unit cell as well as magnetic and superconducting properties at zero field are evaluated. We find that the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate in the film is in excellent agreement with that of bulk crystals, whereas the NQR spectra show noticeable shifts and significant broadening indicating a change in the electric-field distribution inside the film. The analysis implies a displacement of In layers in the film, which however does not affect the magnetic fluctuations and superconducting pairing. This implies that inhomogeneity of the electronic field gradient in the film sample causes no pair breaking effect.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Charge Carrier Dynamics of the Heavy Fermion Metal CeCoIn$_5$ Probed by THz Spectroscopy

We discuss the charge carrier dynamics of the heavy-fermion compound CeCoIn$_5$ in the metallic regime measured by means of quasi-optical THz spectroscopy. The transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through a CeCoIn$_5$ thin film on a dielectric substrate is analyzed in the single-particle Drude framework. We discuss the temperature dependence of the electronic properties, such as the scattering time and dc-conductivity and compare with transport measurements of the sheet resistance. Towards low temperatures, we find an increasing mismatch between the results from transport and Drude-analyzed optical measurements and a growing incapability of the simple single-particle picture describing the charge dynamics, likely caused by the evolving heavy-fermion nature of the correlated electron system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

The interface between heavy fermions and normal electrons investigated by spatially-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance

We have studied the superlattices with alternating block layers (BLs) of heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 and conventional-metal YbCoIn5 by site-selective nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy, which uniquely offers spatially-resolved dynamical magnetic information. We find that the presence of antiferromagnetic fluctuations is confined to the Ce-BLs, indicating that magnetic degrees of freedom of f-electrons are quenched inside the Yb-BLs. Contrary to simple expectations that the two-dimensionalization enhances fluctuations, we observe that antiferromagnetic fluctuations are rapidly suppressed with decreasing Ce-BL thickness. Moreover, the suppression is more prominent near the interfaces between the BLs. These results imply significant effects of local inversion-symmetry breaking at the interfaces.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Anti-damping spin transfer torque through epitaxial Nickel oxide

We prepare the high quality epitaxial MgO(001)[100]/Pt(001)[100]/NiO(001)[100]/FeNi/SiO2 films to investigate the spin transport in the NiO antiferromagnetic insulator. The ferromagnetic resonance measurements of the FeNi under a spin current injection from the Pt by the spin Hall effect revealed the change of the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth depending on the amount of the spin current injection. The results can be interpreted that there is an angular momentum transfer through the NiO. A high efficient angular momentum transfer we observed in the epitaxial NiO can be attributed to the well-defined orientation of the antiferromagnetic moments and the spin quantization axis of the injected spin current.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Terahertz Conductivity of the Heavy-Fermion State in CeCoIn5

The optical properties of thin films of the heavy-fermion compound CeCoIn5, which were deposited by molecular beam epitaxy onto MgF2 substrates, have been studied at frequencies 7 to 45 cm^{-1} (corresponding to 0.2 to 1.3 THz) and temperatures 2 to 300 K. We observe an electrodynamic behavior which is typical for heavy fermions, namely Drude-like conductivity with a relaxation rate at rather low frequencies. This relaxation rate increases almost linearly with temperature up to at least 30 K. The coherent heavy-fermion state, characterized by an increase of the effective mass, continuously evolves upon cooling and is not fully developed for temperatures as low as 5 K.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Disorder, critical currents, and vortex pinning energies in isovalently substituted BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$

We present a comprehensive overview of vortex pinning in single crystals of the isovalently substituted iron-based superconductor BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$, a material that qualifies as an archetypical clean superconductor, containing only sparse strong point-like pins [in the sense of C.J. van der Beek {\em et al.}, Phys. Rev. B {\bf 66}, 024523 (2002)]. Widely varying critical current values for nominally similar compositions show that flux pinning is of extrinsic origin. Vortex configurations, imaged using the Bitter decoration method, show less density fluctuations than those previously observed in charge-doped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystals. Analysis reveals that the pinning force and -energy distributions depend on the P-content $x$. However, they are always much narrower than in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$, a result that is attributed to the weaker temperature dependence of the superfluid density on approaching $T_{c}$ in BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$. Critical current density measurements and pinning force distributions independently yield a mean distance between effective pinning centers $\bar{\mathcal L} \sim 90$ nm, increasing with increasing P-content $x$. This evolution can be understood as being the consequence of the P-dependence of the London penetration depth. Further salient features are a wide vortex free "Meissner belt", observed at the edge of overdoped crystals, and characteristic chain-like vortex arrangements, observed at all levels of P-substitution.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Charge doping-induced quasiparticle scattering in iron-pnictide superconductors as probed by vortex pinning

Charge doping of iron-pnictide superconductors leads to collective pinning of flux vortices, whereas isovalent doping does not. Moreover, flux pinning in the charge-doped compounds is consistently described by the mean-free path fluctuations introduced by the dopant atoms, allowing for the extraction of the elastic quasiparticle scattering rate. The absence of scattering by dopant atoms in isovalently doped BaFe$_{2}$(As$_{1-x}$P$_{x}$)$_{2}$ is consistent with the observation of a linear temperature dependence of the low-temperature penetration depth in this material.

cond-mat.supr-con↗