arXiv subjects

Takuro Katsufuji

Publications and source records attributed to Takuro Katsufuji.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observation of complex orbital order in MnV2O4

Orbital ordering in vanadium spinel oxides with a geometrically frustrated pyrochlore structure has been a subject of controversy, owing to competing theoretical models and the absence of direct experimental evidence. Here we combine high-precision single-crystal synchrotron x-ray diffraction with core differential fourier synthesis to visualize the valence electron density (VED) of the orbital-ordered ground state in real space. By carefully investigating multiple-scattering artifacts, we identify the low-temperature structure as belonging to the I41/amd space group. The reconstructed VED around the V sites reveals an orbital-ordered state distinct from both previously proposed real- and complex-orbital models. Our results resolve the long-standing controversy in MnV2O4 and establish a route to identifying orbital states in frustrated spin-orbital systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Yb 4f-Ta 5d Hybridization and Valence Evolution in Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze Ba(3-x)YbxTa5O15

Here we investigate the electronic structure of the tetragonal tungsten bronze Ba$_{3-x}$Yb$_x$Ta$_{5}$O$_{15}$ by making use of hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The core level spectroscopy shows that the substitution with Yb ions in the series first occurs on the compact S1 site. For $x\leq1$, Yb is found to be dominantly Yb$^{2+}$ with a small mixing of Yb$^{3+}$, while for $x>1$, a significant increase of Yb$^{3+}$ is found, suggesting not only that site S2 favours Yb$^{3+}$, but also that their presence affects also the valency of the ions in site S1. The valence band spectra shows a relatively deep Yb$^{2+}$ doublet, but at the same time indications of a Ta~$5d$-Yb~$4f$ interaction are found, suggesting the presence of Yb~$4f$ carriers at the Fermi level through this hybridization. Our results thus point towards an exotic form of $d$-$f$ electronic interplay that together with the structural degrees of freedom can result in the unusual trends observed in the physical properties of Ba$_{3-x}$Yb$_x$Ta$_{5}$O$_{15}$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Electronic States and Possible Origin of the Orbital-Glass State in a Nearly Metallic Spinel Cobalt Vanadate: An X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Study

We have investigated the orbital states of the orbital-glassy (short-range orbital ordered) spinel vanadate Co$_{1.21}$V$_{1.79}$O$_{4}$ using x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), and subsequent configuration-interaction cluster-model calculation. From the sign of the XMCD spectra, it was found that the spin magnetic moment of the Co ion is aligned parallel to the applied magnetic field and that of the V ion anti-parallel to it, consistent with neutron scattering studies. It was revealed that the excess Co ions at the octahedral site take the trivalent low-spin state, and induce a random potential to the V sublattice. The orbital magnetic moment of the V ion is small although finite, suggesting that the ordered orbitals mainly consists of real-number orbitals.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

A variety of elastic anomalies in orbital-active nearly-itinerant cobalt vanadate spinel

We perform ultrasound velocity measurements on a single crystal of nearly-metallic spinel Co$_{1.21}$V$_{1.79}$O$_4$ which exhibits a ferrimagnetic phase transition at $T_C \sim$ 165 K. The experiments reveal a variety of elastic anomalies in not only the paramagnetic phase above $T_C$ but also the ferrimagnetic phase below $T_C$, which should be driven by the nearly-itinerant character of the orbitally-degenerate V 3$d$ electrons. In the paramagnetic phase above $T_C$, the elastic moduli exhibit elastic-mode-dependent unusual temperature variations, suggesting the existence of a dynamic spin-cluster state. Furthermore, above $T_C$, the sensitive magnetic-field response of the elastic moduli suggests that, with the negative magnetoresistance, the magnetic-field-enhanced nearly-itinerant character of the V 3$d$ electrons emerges from the spin-cluster state. This should be triggered by the inter-V-site interactions acting on the orbitally-degenerate 3$d$ electrons. In the ferrimagnetic phase below $T_C$, the elastic moduli exhibit distinct anomalies at $T_1\sim$ 95 K and $T_2\sim$ 50 K, with a sign change of the magnetoresistance at $T_1$ (positive below $T_1$) and an enhancement of the positive magnetoresistance below $T_2$, respectively. These observations below $T_C$ suggest the successive occurrence of an orbital glassy order at $T_1$ and a structural phase transition at $T_2$, where the rather localized character of the V 3$d$ electrons evolves below $T_1$ and is further enhanced below $T_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

On the role of intrinsic disorder in the structural phase transition of magnetoelectric EuTiO3

Up to now the crystallographic structure of the magnetoelectric perovskite EuTiO3 was considered to remain cubic down to low temperature. Here we present high resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data showing the existence of a structural phase transition, from cubic Pm-3m to tetragonal I4/mcm, involving TiO6 octahedra tilting, in analogy to the case of SrTiO3. The temperature evolution of the tilting angle indicates a second-order phase transition with an estimated Tc=235K. This critical temperature is well below the recent anomaly reported by specific heat measurement at TA\sim282K. By performing atomic pair distribution function analysis on diffraction data we provide evidence of a mismatch between the local (short-range) and the average crystallographic structures in this material. Below the estimated Tc, the average model symmetry is fully compatible with the local environment distortion but the former is characterized by a reduced value of the tilting angle compared to the latter. At T=240K data show the presence of local octahedra tilting identical to the low temperature one, while the average crystallographic structure remains cubic. On this basis, we propose intrinsic lattice disorder to be of fundamental importance in the understanding of EuTiO3 properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗