arXiv subjects

Takao Nakama

Publications and source records attributed to Takao Nakama.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Helical-to-Fan Transitions under Magnetic Fields in the Noncentrosymmetric Tetragonal Magnet EuRhGe$_3$

The magnetic structure of EuRhGe$_3$, a noncentrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal magnet with the space group $I4mm$, has been investigated by resonant X-ray diffraction. Below $T_{\text{N}}=12$ K, EuRhGe$_3$ undergoes a helical magnetic ordering with an incommensurate propagation vector $q=(0, 0, 0.809)$, in which the magnetic moments lie in the $ab$ plane and rotate by a constant turn angle of $145.8^{\circ}$ between adjacent layers. When a magnetic field is applied along the $a$ axis at 2 K, a second-harmonic $2q$ peak develops, indicating that the circular helix is gradually distorted into a helimagnetic soliton-lattice state, which eventually undergoes a lock-in transition to the commensurate structure with $q=0.8$ at 3.8 T. Above the subsequent phase boundary at 5 T, the helicity is lost, and a spin-flop $xyz$-fan (elliptic conical) state is realized, in which the moments oscillate predominantly along the $b$ axis but are accompanied by a small $c$-axis component. At higher fields, the system enters a conventional planar $xy$-fan phase without a $c$-axis component. EuRhGe$_3$ provides a prototypical example of a helimagnet that exhibits a full sequence of field-induced structures, evolving from a circular helix to a spin-flop $xyz$-fan (elliptic conical), and finally to a planar $xy$-fan structure, which has been theoretically predicted.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Single helicity of the triple-$q$ triangular skyrmion lattice state in cubic chiral helimagnet EuPtSi

We investigated the magnetic helicity of the triple-$q$ magnetic structure of the triangular skyrmion lattice in the ``A-phase" of EuPtSi for a magnetic field along the [111] axis by resonant x-ray diffraction using a circularly polarized beam. We show that all three Fourier components of the triple-$q$ structure are perpendicular to the respective $q$ vectors and have the same helicity. They are connected by the rotation operations about the [111] axis. The helicity is the same as that of the single-$q$ helimagnetic phase at low fields, suggesting that the antisymmetric exchange interaction inherent in the chiral structure supports the formation of the triangular skyrmion lattice. We also observe that the helical plane in the helimagnetic phase is tilted to the magnetic field to form a conical structure before the first-order transition to the skyrmion lattice phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Anomalously large spin-dependent electron correlation in nearly half-metallic ferromagnet CoS$_2$

The spin-dependent band structure of CoS$_2$ which is a candidate for a half-metallic ferromagnet was investigated by both spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, in order to reappraise the half-metallicity and electronic correlations. We determined the three-dimensional Fermi surface and the spin-dependent band structure. As a result, we found that a part of the minority spin bands is on the occupied side in the vicinity of the Fermi level, providing spectroscopic evidence that CoS$_2$ is not but very close to a half-metal. Band calculations using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation showed a good agreement with the observed majority spin $e_g$ bands, while it could not explain the observed band width of the minority-spin eg bands. On the other hand, theoretical calculations using dynamical mean field theory could better reproduce the strong mass renormalization in the minority-spin $e_g$ bands. All those results strongly suggest the presence of anomalously enhanced spin-dependent electron correlation effects on the electronic structure in the vicinity of the half-metallic state. We also report the temperature dependence of the electronic structure across the Curie temperature and discuss the mechanism of the thermal demagnetization. Our discovery of the anomalously large spin-dependent electronic correlations not only demonstrates a key factor in understanding the electronic structure of half-metals but also provides a motivation to improve theoretical calculations on spin-polarized strongly correlated systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Distorted triangular skyrmion lattice in a noncentrosymmetric tetragonal magnet

Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like spin-swirling objects ubiquitously realized in magnets. They are topologically stable chiral kinks composed of multiple modulation waves of spiral spin structures, where the helicity of each spiral is usually selected by antisymmetric exchange interactions in noncentrosymmetric crystals. We report an experimental observation of a distorted triangular lattice of skyrmions in the polar tetragonal magnet EuNiGe$_3$, reflecting a strong coupling with the lattice. Moreover, through resonant x-ray diffraction, we find that the magnetic helicity of the original spiral at zero field is reversed when the skyrmion lattice is formed in a magnetic field. This means that the energy gain provided by the skyrmion lattice formation is larger than the antisymmetric exchange interaction. Our findings will lead us to a further understanding of emergent magnetic states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Helicity Selection of the Cycloidal Order in Noncentrosymmetric EuIrGe$_3$

The magnetic helicities of the cycloidal ordering in EuIrGe$_3$, with a noncentrosymmetric tetragonal structure, have been studied by circularly polarized resonant X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the helicity of each cycloidal domain is uniquely determined and satisfies the symmetry relations of the $C_{4v}$ point group of the crystal structure. The result shows that the cycloidal helicity is determined by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type antisymmetric exchange interaction. The domain selection and the phase transition by the external magnetic field along [100] and [110] have also been studied. It is shown that the cycloidal plane prefers to be perpendicular to the field and the transverse conical state is realized.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Cycloidal Magnetic Ordering in Noncentrosymmetric EuIrGe$_3$

Successive magnetic phase transitions at $T_{\text{N}}$=12.2 K, $T_{\text{N}}^{\;\prime}$=7.0 K, and $T_{\text{N}}^{\;*}$=5.0 K in EuIrGe$_3$, an intermetallic compound with a body centered tetragonal lattice belonging to a polar space group $I4mm$, has been investigated by neutron diffraction and resonant X-ray diffraction. It is shown that EuIrGe$_3$ exhibits an incommensurate longitudinal sinusoidal order with $q\sim (0, 0, 0.792)$ and $m_{q} \parallel c\text{-axis}$ in the high temperature phase ($T_{\text{N}}^{\;\prime}< T < T_{\text{N}}$), which changes to a cycloidal order with $q=(δ', 0, 0.8)$ ($δ'\sim 0.017$) and $m_{q} \parallel ac\text{-plane}$ in the intermediate phase ($T_{\text{N}}^{\;*} < T < T_{\text{N}}^{\;\prime}$). In the low temperature phase ($T < T_{\text{N}}^{\;*}$), the cycloidal plane rotates by $45^{\circ}$ to have $q=(δ, δ, 0.8)$ ($δ\sim 0.012$). It is also pointed out that the X-ray scattering amplitude from odd-parity magnetic quadrupole due to the polar environment interfere with that from normal even-parity magnetic dipole in the magnetic ordered phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Charge-Density-Wave Order and Multiple Magnetic Transitions in Divalent Europium Compound EuAl$_4$

Multiple transition phenomena in divalent Eu compound EuAl$_4$ with the tetragonal structure were investigated via the single-crystal time-of-flight neutron Laue technique. At 30.0 K below a charge-density-wave (CDW) transition temperature of $T_{\rm CDW}$ = 140 K, superlattice peaks emerge near nuclear Bragg peaks described by an ordering vector $q_{\rm CDW}$=(0 0 $δ_c$) with $δ_c{\sim}$0.19. In contrast, magnetic peaks appear at $q_2 = (δ_2 δ_2 0)$ with $δ_2$ = 0.085 in a magnetic-ordered phase at 13.5 K below $T_{\rm N1}$ = 15.4 K. By further cooling to below $T_{\rm N3}$ = 12.2 K, the magnetic ordering vector changes into $q_1 = (δ_1 0 0)$ with $δ_1$ = 0.17 at 11.5 K and slightly shifts to $δ_1$ = 0.194 at 4.3 K. No distinct change in the magnetic Bragg peak was detected at $T_{\rm N2}$=13.2 K and $T_{\rm N4}$=10.0 K. The structural modulation below $T_{\rm CDW}$ with $q_{\rm CDW}$ is characterized by the absence of the superlattice peak in the (0 0 $l$) axis. As a similar CDW transition was observed in SrAl$_4$, the structural modulation with $q_{\rm CDW}$ could be mainly ascribed to the displacement of Al ions within the tetragonal $ab$-plane. Complex magnetic transitions are in stark contrast to a simple collinear magnetic structure in isovalent EuGa$_4$. This could stem from different electronic structures with the CDW transition between two compounds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Quantum Criticality of Valence Transition for the Unique Electronic State of Antiferromagnetic Compound EuCu2Ge2

The effect of pressure on the unique electronic state of the antiferromagnetic (AF) compound EuCu2Ge2 has been measured in a wide temperature range from 10 mK to 300 K by electrical resistivity measurements up to 10 GPa. The Neel temperature of TN = 15 K at ambient pressure increases monotonically with increasing pressure and becomes a maximum of TN = 27 K at 6.2 GPa but suddenly drops to zero at Pc = 6.5 GPa, suggesting the quantum critical point (QCP) of the valence transition of Eu from a nearly divalent state to that with trivalent weight. The rhomag0 and A values obtained from the low-temperature electrical resistivity based on the Fermi liquid relation of rhomag = rhomag0 + AT^2 exhibit huge and sharp peaks around Pc. The exponent n obtained from the power law dependence rhomag = rhomag0 + BT^n is clearly less than 1.5 at P = Pc = 6. 5 GPa, which is expected at the AF-QCP. These results indicate that Pc coincides with Pv, corresponding to the quantum criticality of the valence transition pressure Pv. The electronic specific heat coefficient, estimated from the generalized Kadowaki-Woods relation, is about 510 mJ/mol K^2 around Pc, suggesting the formation of a heavy-fermion state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Unique Helical Magnetic Order and Field-Induced Phase in Trillium Lattice Antiferromagnet EuPtSi

Magnetic transition phenomena in cubic chiral antiferromagnet EuPtSi with $T_{\rm N}$=4.0~K were investigated by means of single crystal neutron diffraction. At 0.3~K in the ground state, magnetic peaks emerge at positions represented by an ordering vector ${q}_{1}$=$(0.2, 0.3, 0)$ and its cyclic permutation. Upon heating, an additional magnetic peak splitting with hysteresis was uncovered at around $T^*_{\rm N}{\sim}$2.5~K, indicating the presence of a first-order commensurate-incommensurate transition with ${q}^*_{1}$=$(0.2, 0.3, δ)$ ($δ_{\rm max}{\simeq}$0.04) at $T^*_{\rm N}$. A half-polarized neutron scattering experiment for polarization parallel to the scattering vector revealed that polarization antiparallel to the scattering vector has stronger intensity in both magnetic phases. This feature clarifies the single chiral character of the helical structure with moments lying perpendicular to the ordering vector in both ordered states. Under a vertical magnetic field of 1.2~T for ${B}{\parallel}$[1,1,1] at 1.9~K entering into the so-called $A$ phase, magnetic peaks form characteristic hexagonal patterns in the equatorial scattering plane around nuclear peaks. An ordering vector ${q}_{A}{\simeq}({\pm}0.09, {\pm}0.20, {\mp}0.28)$ of the $A$-phase has similar periodic length as $q_{1}$, and could be the hallmark of a formation of skyrmion lattice in EuPtSi.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Linear magnetoresistance in the low-field limit in density-wave materials

The magnetoresistance (MR) of a material is typically insensitive to reversing the applied field direction and varies quadratically with magnetic field in the low-field limit. Quantum effects [1], unusual topological band structures [2], and inhomogeneities that lead to wandering current paths [3, 4] can induce a crossover from quadratic to linear magnetoresistance with increasing magnetic field. Here we explore a series of metallic charge- and spin-density-wave systems that exhibit extremely large positive linear magnetoresistance. By contrast to other linear MR mechanisms, this effect remains robust down to miniscule magnetic fields of tens of Oersted at low temperature. We frame an explanation of this phenomenon in a semi-classical narrative for a broad category of materials with partially-gapped Fermi surfaces due to density waves.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Microscopic Observation of Heavy Quasiparticle Formation in the Intermediate Valence Compound EuNi$_2$P$_2$: $^{31}$P NMR Study

We report $^{31}$P NMR measurements under various magnetic fields up to 7 T for the intermediate valence compound EuNi$_2$P$_2$, which shows heavy electronic states at low temperatures. In the high-temperature region above 40 K, the Knight shift followed the Curie--Weiss law reflecting localized $4f$ states. In addition, the behavior corresponding to the temperature variation of the average valence of Eu was observed in the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$. With the occurrence of the Kondo effect, $1/T_1$ was clearly reduced below 40 K, and the Knight shift becomes almost constant at low temperatures. From these results, the formation of heavy quasiparticles by the hybridization of Eu $4f$ electrons and conduction electrons was clarified from microscopic viewpoints. Furthermore, a characteristic spin fluctuation was observed at low temperatures, which would be associated with valence fluctuations caused by the intermediate valence state of EuNi$_2$P$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

NMR studies of the incommensurate helical antiferromagnet EuCo2P2 : determination of the antiferromagnetic propagation vector

Recently Ding et al. [Phys. Rev. B 95, 184404 (2017)] reported that their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study on EuCo$_2$As$_2$ successfully characterized the antiferromagnetic (AFM) propagation vector of the incommensurate helix AFM state, showing that NMR is a unique tool for determination of the spin structures in incommensurate helical AFMs. Motivated by this work, we have carried out $^{153}$Eu, $^{31}$P and $^{59}$Co NMR measurements on the helical antiferromagnet EuCo$_2$P$_2$ with an AFM ordering temperature $T_{\rm N}$ = 66.5 K. An incommensurate helical AFM structure was clearly confirmed by $^{153}$Eu and $^{31}$P NMR spectra on single crystalline EuCo$_2$P$_2$ in zero magnetic field at 1.6 K and its external magnetic field dependence. Furthermore, based on $^{59}$Co NMR data in both the paramagnetic and the incommensurate AFM states, we have determined the model-independent value of the AFM propagation vector k = (0, 0, 0.73 $\pm$ 0.09)2$π$/$c$ where $c$ is the $c$-axis lattice parameter. The temperature dependence of k is also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic structure of divalent europium compound EuGa$_4$ studied by single crystal time-of-flight neutron diffraction

The magnetic structure of the intermetallic compound EuGa$_4$ was investigated using single-crystal neutron diffraction with the time-of-flight (TOF) Laue technique on the new diffractometer SENJU at MLF of J-PARC. In spite of high neutron absorption of Eu, a vast number of diffraction spots were observed without isotope enrichment. The magnetic reflections were appeared at the positions with the diffraction indices of $h+k+l{\neq}2n$ below 16 K, indicating that the ordering vector is ${\bf q}=(0~0~0)$. Continuous evolution of magnetic reflection intensity below $T_{\rm N}$ follows a squared Brillouin function for $S$=7/2. By adopting a wavelength-dependent absorption collection, the magnetic structure of EuGa$_4$ was revealed that a nearly full magnetic moment of 6.4$~μ_{\rm B}$ of Eu lies within the basal plane of the lattice. The present study reveals a well-localized divalent Eu magnetism in EuGa$_4$ and demonstrates a high ability of SENJU to investigate materials with high neutron absorption.

cond-mat.str-el↗