arXiv subjects

U. Nagel

Publications and source records attributed to U. Nagel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Chirality-resolved spectroscopy of Caroli-de Gennes-Matricon states in multiband FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$ superconductors

We employ terahertz Faraday magneto-optical spectroscopy to probe the relaxation dynamics of quantized helical Caroli-de Gennes-Matricon (CdGM) states in epitaxial FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_x$ thin films, nodeless multiband superconductors with short coherence lengths in the moderately clean limit. By exploiting polarization-selective optical transitions, we directly resolve the helicity and band origin of vortex-core quasiparticles. We observe long-lived CdGM resonances with opposite circular polarizations for electron- and hole-like bands. This enables independent, band-resolved determination of quasiparticle lifetimes, vortex masses, coherence lengths, and upper critical fields, and reveals their systematic evolution with isovalent substitution. The results establish terahertz magneto-optics as a direct probe of helical vortex-core excitations and provide dynamical evidence for multiband CdGM states in iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Modified Martin-Puplett interferometer for magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements at sub-THz frequencies

We present magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) spectrometer based on a modified Martin-Puplett interferometer, utilizing continuous wave sub-THz low-power radiation in broad frequency range. This spectrometer is capable of measuring the frequency dependence of the MOKE response function, both the Kerr rotation and ellipticity, simultaneously with sub-milliradian accuracy without the need for reference measurement. The instrument's versatility allow it to be coupled to a cryostat with optical windows enabling studies of a variety of quantum materials such as unconventional superconductors, two-dimensional electron gas systems, quantum magnets, and other system showing optical Hall response, at sub-Kelvin temperatures and in high magnetic fields. We demonstrate the functionality of the MOKE spectrometer using an undoped InSb wafer as a test sample.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Magnetic field-induced phases and spin Hamiltonian in Cs2CoBr4

Magnetic structures and spin excitations are studied across the phase diagram of the geometrically frustrated S = 3/2 quantum antiferromagnet Cs2CoBr4 in magnetic fields applied along the magnetic easy axis, using neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and THz absorption spectroscopy. The data are analyzed, where appropriate, using extended SU (4) linear spin wave theory. A minimal magnetic Hamiltonian is proposed based on measurements in the high field polarized state. It deviates considerably from the previously considered models. Additional dilatometry experiments highlight the importance of magnetoelastic coupling in this system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

THz spin-wave excitations in the transverse conical phase of BiFeO$_3$

Although BiFeO$_3$ is one of the most studied multiferroic materials, recent magnetization and neutron scattering studies have revealed a new magnetic phase in this compound - the transverse conical phase. To study the collective spin excitations of this phase, we performed THz spectroscopy in magnetic fields up to 17 T at and above room temperature. We observed five spin-wave branches in the magnetic phase with long wavelength conical modulation. Using a numerical spin dynamics model we found two kinds of excitations with magnetic moments oscillating either along or perpendicular to the static fields. Remarkably, we detected strong directional dichroism, an optical manifestation of the magnetoelectric effect, for two spin-wave modes of the conical phase. According to our experiments, the stability of the conical state is sensitive to the magnetic field history and it can become (meta)stable at or close to zero magnetic field, which may allow exploiting its magnetoelectric properties at room temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Confinement of fractional excitations in a triangular lattice antiferromagnet

High-resolution neutron and THz spectroscopies are used to study the magnetic excitation spectrum of Cs$_2$CoBr$_4$, a distorted-triangular-lattice antiferromagnet with nearly XY-type anisotropy. What was previously thought of as a broad excitation continuum [Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 087201 (2022)] is shown to be a series of dispersive bound states reminiscent of "Zeeman ladders" in quasi-one-dimensional Ising systems. At wave vectors where inter-chain interactions cancel at the Mean Field level, they can indeed be interpreted as bound finite-width kinks in individual chains. Elsewhere in the Brillouin zone their true two-dimensional structure and propagation are revealed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Spin excitations in the magnetically ordered phases of MnSc$_2$S$_4$

Recent neutron scattering experiments suggested that frustrated magnetic interactions give rise to antiferromagnetic spiral and fractional skyrmion lattice phases in MnSc$_2$S$_4$. Here, to trace the signatures of these modulated phases, we studied the spin excitations of MnSc$_2$S$_4$ by THz spectroscopy at 300 mK up to 12 T. We found a single magnetic resonance with linearly increasing frequency in field. The corresponding $g$-factor of Mn$^{2+}$ ions $g$ = 1.96, and the absence of other resonances imply very weak anisotropies and negligible contribution of higher harmonics to the spiral state. The significant difference between the dc magnetic susceptibility and the lowest-frequency ac susceptibility in our experiment implies the existence of mode(s) below 100 GHz.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Refining magnetic interactions from the magnetic field dependence of spin-wave excitations in magnetoelectric LiFePO$_4$

We investigated the spin excitations of magnetoelectric $\text{LiFePO}_4$ by THz absorption spectroscopy in magnetic fields up to 33$\,$T. By studying their selection rules, we found not only magnetic-dipole, but also electric-dipole active (electromagnons) and magnetoelectric resonances. The magnetic field dependence of four strong low-energy modes is reproduced well by our four-sublattice spin model for fields applied along the three orthorhombic axes. From the fit, we refined the exchange couplings, single-ion anisotropies, and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction parameters. Additional spin excitations not described by the mean-field model are observed at higher frequencies. Some of them shows a strong shift with magnetic field, up to 4$\,\text{cm}^{-1}/\text{T}$, when the field is applied along the easy axis. Based on this field dependence, we attribute these high frequency resonances to excitation of higher spin multipoles and of two magnons, which become THz-active due to the low symmetry of the magnetically ordered state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

In-situ electric field control of THz non-reciprocal directional dichroism in the multiferroic Ba$_2$CoGe$_2$O$_7$

Non-reciprocal directional dichroism, also called the optical-diode effect, is an appealing functional property inherent to the large class of non-centrosymmetric magnets. However, the in-situ electric control of this phenomenon is challenging as it requires a set of conditions to be fulfilled: Special symmetries of the magnetic ground state, spin-excitations with comparable magnetic- and electric-dipole activity and switchable electric polarization. We demonstrate the isothermal electric switch between domains of Ba$_2$CoGe$_2$O$_7$ possessing opposite magnetoelectric susceptibilities. Combining THz spectroscopy and multiboson spin-wave analysis, we show that unbalancing the population of antiferromagnetic domains generates the non-reciprocal light absorption of spin excitations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Selection rules and dynamic magnetoelectric effect of the spin waves in multiferroic BiFeO$_3$

We report the magnetic field dependence of the THz absorption and non-reciprocal directional dichroism spectra of BiFeO$_3$ measured on the three principal crystal cuts for fields applied along the three principal directions of each cut. From the systematic study of the light polarization dependence we deduced the optical selection rules of the spin-wave excitations. Our THz data, combined with small-angle neutron scattering results showed that i) an in-plane magnetic field rotates the $\mathbf{q}$ vectors of the cycloids perpendicular to the magnetic field, and ii) the selection rules are mostly determined by the orientation of the $\mathbf{q}$ vector with respect to the electromagnetic fields. We observed a magnetic field history dependent change in the strength and the frequency of the spin-wave modes, which we attributed to the change of the orientation and the length of the cycloidal $\mathbf{q}$ vector, respectively. Finally, we compared our experimental data with the results of linear spin-wave theory that reproduces the magnetic field dependence of the spin-wave frequencies and most of the selection rules, from which we identified the spin-polarization coupling terms relevant for the optical magnetoelectric effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Experimental Determination of the Interaction Potential between a Helium Atom and the Interior Surface of a C60 Fullerene Molecule

The interactions between atoms and molecules may be described by a potential energy function of the nuclear coordinates. Non-bonded interactions are dominated by repulsive forces at short range and attractive dispersion forces at long range. Experimental data on the detailed interaction potentials for non-bonded interatomic and intermolecular forces is scarce. Here we use terahertz spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering to determine the potential energy function for the non-bonded interaction between single He atoms and encapsulating C60 fullerene cages, in the helium endofullerenes 3He and 4He, synthesised by molecular surgery techniques. The experimentally derived potential is compared to estimates from quantum chemistry calculations, and from sums of empirical two-body potentials.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2021

Infrared spectroscopy of endohedral water in C$_{60}$

Infrared absorption spectroscopy study of endohedral water molecule in a solid mixture of H$_2$O@C$_{60}$ and C$_{60}$ was carried out at liquid helium temperature. From the evolution of the spectra during the ortho-para conversion process, the spectral lines were identified as para- and ortho-water transitions. Eight vibrational transitions with rotational side peaks were observed in the mid-infrared: $ω_1$, $ω_2$, $ω_3$, $2ω_1$, $2ω_2$, $ω_1 +ω_3$, $ω_2 +ω_3$, and $2ω_2+ω_3$. The vibrational frequencies $ω_2$ and 2$ω_2$ are lower by 1.6\% and the rest by 2.4\%, as compared to free \water/. A model consisting of a rovibrational Hamiltonian with the dipole and quadrupole moments of water interacting with the crystal field was used to fit the infrared absorption spectra. The electric quadrupole interaction with the crystal field lifts the degeneracy of the rotational levels. The finite amplitudes of the pure $v_1$ and $v_2$ vibrational transitions are consistent with the interaction of the water molecule dipole moment with a lattice-induced electric field. The permanent dipole moment of encapsulated \water/ is found to be $0.5\pm 0.1$ D as determined from the far-infrared rotational line intensities. The translational mode of the quantized center of mass motion of \water/ in the molecular cage of C$_{60}$ was observed at 110cm$^{-1}$ (13.6meV).

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2021

Secant Varieties of the Varieties of Reducible Hypersurfaces in ${\mathbb P}^n$

Given the space $V={\mathbb P}^{\binom{d+n-1}{n-1}-1}$ of forms of degree $d$ in $n$ variables, and given an integer $\ell>1$ and a partition $λ$ of $d=d_1+\cdots+d_r$, it is in general an open problem to obtain the dimensions of the $\ell$-secant varieties $σ_\ell ({\mathbb X}_{n-1,λ})$ for the subvariety ${\mathbb X}_{n-1,λ} \subset V$ of hypersurfaces whose defining forms have a factorization into forms of degrees $d_1,\ldots,d_r$. Modifying a method from intersection theory, we relate this problem to the study of the Weak Lefschetz Property for a class of graded algebras, based on which we give a conjectural formula for the dimension of $σ_\ell({\mathbb X}_{n-1,λ})$ for any choice of parameters $n,\ell$ and $λ$. This conjecture gives a unifying framework subsuming all known results. Moreover, we unconditionally prove the formula in many cases, considerably extending previous results, as a consequence of which we verify many special cases of previously posed conjectures for dimensions of secant varieties of Segre varieties. In the special case of a partition with two parts (i.e., $r=2$), we also relate this problem to a conjecture by Fröberg on the Hilbert function of an ideal generated by general forms.

math.AG↗

arXiv2020

Duality and domain wall dynamics in a twisted Kitaev chain

The Ising chain in transverse field is a paradigmatic model for a host of physical phenomena, including spontaneous symmetry breaking, topological defects, quantum criticality, and duality. Although the quasi-1D ferromagnet CoNb$_2$O$_6$ has been put forward as the best material example of the transverse field Ising model, it exhibits significant deviations from ideality. Through a combination of THz spectroscopy and theory, we show that CoNb$_2$O$_6$ in fact is well described by a different model with strong bond dependent interactions, which we dub the {\it twisted Kitaev chain}, as these interactions share a close resemblance to a one-dimensional version of the intensely studied honeycomb Kitaev model. In this model the ferromagnetic ground state of CoNb$_2$O$_6$ arises from the compromise between two distinct alternating axes rather than a single easy axis. Due to this frustration, even at zero applied field domain-wall excitations have quantum motion that is described by the celebrated Su-Schriefer-Heeger model of polyacetylene. This leads to rich behavior as a function of field. Despite the anomalous domain wall dynamics, close to a critical transverse field the twisted Kitaev chain enters a universal regime in the Ising universality class. This is reflected by the observation that the excitation gap in CoNb$_2$O$_6$ in the ferromagnetic regime closes at a rate precisely twice that of the paramagnet. This originates in the duality between domain walls and spin-flips and the topological conservation of domain wall parity. We measure this universal ratio `2' to high accuracy -- the first direct evidence for the Kramers-Wannier duality in nature.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Waring and cactus ranks and Strong Lefschetz Property for annihilators of symmetric forms

In this note we show that the complete symmetric polynomials are dual generators of compressed artinian Gorenstein algebras satisfying the Strong Lefschetz Property. This is the first example of an explicit dual form with these properties. For complete symmetric forms of any degree in any number of variables, we provide an upper bound for the Waring rank by establishing an explicit power sum decomposition. Moreover, we determine the Waring rank, the cactus rank, the resolution and the Strong Lefschetz Property for any Gorenstein algebra defined by a symmetric cubic form. In particular, we show that the difference between the Waring rank and the cactus rank of a symmetric cubic form can be made arbitrarily large by increasing the number of variables. We provide upper bounds for the Waring rank of generic symmetric forms of degrees four and five.

math.AG↗

arXiv2020

Magnetic anisotropy and exchange paths for octa- and tetrahedrally coordinated Mn$^{2+}$ ions in the honeycomb multiferroic Mn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$

We investigated the static and dynamic magnetic properties of the polar ferrimagnet Mn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ in three magnetically ordered phases via magnetization, magnetic torque, and THz absorption spectroscopy measurements. The observed magnetic field dependence of the spin-wave resonances, including Brillouin zone-center and zone-boundary excitations, magnetization, and torque, are well described by an extended two-sublattice antiferromagnetic classical mean-field model. In this orbitally quenched system, the competing weak easy-plane and easy-axis single-ion anisotropies of the two crystallographic sites are determined from the model and assigned to the tetra- and octahedral sites, respectively, by ab initio calculations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Terahertz Magneto-optical investigation of quadrupolar spin-lattice effects in magnetically frustrated Tb2Ti2O7

The significance of spin-lattice coupling in the phase diagram of the quantum spin-icepyrochlore Tb2Ti2O7 has been a topic of debate for some time. Here, we focus on the aspect of vibronic coupling, which occurs between the Tb3+ electronic levels and transverse acoustic phonons, by studying their dependence on a magnetic field applied along the cubic h111i direction. Our experimental THz spectroscopy measurements, combined with quantitative theoretical quantum calculations, show that indeed vibronic effects are observed at 3 K. An analysis incorporating quadrupolar spin-lattice effects in the Hamiltonian is therefore relevant in this compound, which is no longer optically isotropic but magnetically birefringent.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Schemes supported on the singular locus of a hyperplane arrangement in $\mathbb P^n$

We introduce the use of liaison addition to the study of hyperplane arrangements. For an arrangement, $\mathcal A$, of hyperplanes in $\mathbb P^n$, $\mathcal A$ is free if $R/J$ is Cohen-Macaulay, where $J$ is the Jacobian ideal of $\mathcal A$. Terao's conjecture says that freeness of $\mathcal A$ is determined by the combinatorics of the intersection lattice of $\mathcal A$. We study the Cohen-Macaulayness of three other ideals, all unmixed, that are closely related to $\mathcal A$. Let $\overline J = \mathfrak q_1 \cap \dots \cap \mathfrak q_s$ be the intersection of height two primary components of $J$ and $\sqrt{J} = \mathfrak p_1 \cap \dots \cap \mathfrak p_s$ be the radical of $J$. Our third ideal is $\mathfrak p_1^{b_1} \cap \dots \cap \mathfrak p_s^{b_s}$ for suitable $b_1,\dots, b_s$. With a mild hypothesis we use liaison addition to show that all of these ideals are Cohen-Macaulay. When our hypothesis does not hold, we show that these ideals are not necessarily Cohen-Macaulay, and that Cohen-Macaulayness of any of these ideals does not imply Cohen-Macaulayness of any of the others. While we do not study the freeness of $\mathcal A$, we show by example that the Betti diagrams can vary even for arrangements with the same combinatorics. We then study the situation when the hypothesis does not hold. For equidimensional curves in $\mathbb P^3$, the Hartshorne-Rao module from liaison theory measures the failure of an ideal to be Cohen-Macaulay, degree by degree, and also determines the even liaison class of such a curve. We show that for any positive integer $r$ there is an arrangement $\mathcal A$ for which $R/\overline J$ fails to be Cohen-Macaulay in only one degree, and this failure is by $r$; we also give an analogous result for $\sqrt{J}$. We draw consequences for the corresponding even liaison class of the curve defined by $\overline J$ or by $\sqrt{J}$.

math.AG↗

arXiv2018

Unexpected hypersurfaces and where to find them

In a recent paper by Cook, et al., which introduced the concept of unexpected plane curves, the focus was on understanding the geometry of the curves themselves. Here we expand the definition to hypersurfaces of any dimension and, using constructions which appeal to algebra, geometry, representation theory and computation, we obtain a coarse but complete classification of unexpected hypersurfaces. In particular, we determine each $(n,d,m)$ for which there is some finite set of points $Z\subset\mathbb P^n$ with an unexpected hypersurface of degree $d$ in $\mathbb P^n$ having a general point $P$ of multiplicity $m$. Our constructions also give new insight into the interesting question of where to look for such $Z$. Recent work of Di Marca, Malara and Oneto \cite{DMO} and of Bauer, Malara, Szemberg and Szpond \cite{BMSS} give new results and examples in $\mathbb P^2$ and $\mathbb P^3$. We obtain our main results using a new construction of unexpected hypersurfaces involving cones. This method applies in $\mathbb P^n$ for $n \geq 3$ and gives a broad range of examples, which we link to certain failures of the Weak Lefschetz Property. We also give constructions using root systems, both in $\mathbb P^2$ and $\mathbb P^n$ for $n \geq 3$. Finally, we explain an observation of \cite{BMSS}, showing that the unexpected curves of \cite{CHMN} are in some sense dual to their tangent cones at their singular point.

math.AG↗