arXiv subjects

Urmas Nagel

Publications and source records attributed to Urmas Nagel.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Magnetization processes and spin dynamics across field-induced phase transitions in the quasi-two-dimensional quantum magnet Cu$_2$(OH)$_3$Br

We present magnetic-field-dependent evolution of magnetization and spin dynamics in the quasi-two-dimensional spin-$1/2$ magnet $\mathrm{Cu_2(OH)_3Br}$, consisting of alternately coupled ferromagnetic Cu1 and antiferromagnetic Cu2 spin chains. Terahertz spectroscopy reveals a pronounced field-direction dependence of the low-energy magnetic excitation spectrum. For magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the spin chains, $B\parallel a$ and $B\parallel c^*$, the spectra undergo abrupt reconstructions at the spin-flop transitions identified independently by high-field magnetization measurements. For $B\parallel b$, by contrast, no spin-flop occurs; instead, the excitation spectrum evolves continuously with field and exhibits a strong terahertz radiation polarization dependence as the ferromagnetic Cu1 subsystem becomes progressively polarized. At higher fields, the complex low-field spectrum is replaced by a reduced set of broad excitations, consistent with a weakening of the coupling between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic chain subsystems. Complementary Raman spectroscopy resolves magnon and spinon excitations alongside several phonon modes and traces the characteristic temperature- and magnetic-field-dependent evolution of the magnetic excitations. The combined spectroscopic and magnetization results map out how a magnetic field reorganizes the coupled ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic subsystems in $\mathrm{Cu_2(OH)_3Br}$ across field-induced phase transitions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Magnetic quantum defects in a uniaxial antiferromagnetic insulator

Point defects have been successfully utilized in various quantum technologies, serving as quantum qubits for quantum computation, single-photon emitters for quantum communication, and nanoscale sensors for quantum metrology. However, their further development faces key challenges, particularly in discovering and exploring suitable defect-host systems that meet the necessary criteria for quantum applications. Here, using polarization-resolved Raman spectroscopy and terahertz absorption spectroscopy, we discover three distinct chromium-vacancy-induced excitations in the uniaxial antiferromagnetic insulator, Cr$_2$O$_3$. These vacancy-induced excitations have an energy scale of a few tens of millielectronvolts and are twofold degenerate, and the lowest one at 64 $cm^{-1}$ is sharp and sensitive to the external magnetic field along the easy-axis direction, particularly close to the spin-flop regime around 6T, where the mode softens from 64 to 27$cm^{-1}$. Based on the defect supercell first-principles calculations, we interpret the mode at 64 $cm^{-1}$ as a local magnetic excitation of the local moment within the chromium vacancy state. Our results establish that the magnetic defect states in Cr$_2$O$_3$ have potential for quantum applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Observation of an emergent energy scale close to dimensional reduction in a quasi-two-dimensional quantum magnet

By appropriately perturbing a critical transverse-field Ising chain away from its critical point, the system can develop a finite correlation length with a characteristic purely massive spectrum, whose ratios and correlations are precisely described by an integrable field theory and an infinite set of integrals of motion corresponding to the $E_8$ Lie algebra. In this work, we report on experimental observation of a characteristic massive spectrum close to transverse field-induced dimensional reduction in a quasi-two-dimensional quantum magnet Cu$_2$(OH)$_3$Br, providing evidence for an emergent $E_8$ symmetry and the corresponding excitations of bound states in the sublattice of its ferromagnetic chains. These results demonstrate the power of integrable field theory in describing emergent many-body quantum critical phenomena in condensed matter systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Quantum spin dynamics of the honeycomb magnet K$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$ in high magnetic fields

We present terahertz spectroscopic measurements of quantum spin dynamics in the honeycomb magnet K$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$ as a function of temperature, polarization and in an external magnetic field applied in the honeycomb plane. Magnetic excitations are resolved below the magnetic ordering temperature of $T_\text{N}$ = 12 K. In the applied magnetic field, we reveal characteristic field dependence not only for the magnetic excitations observed at zero field, but also a rich set of modes emerging in finite fields. The observed magnetic excitations exhibit clear dependence on the terahertz polarization, and characteristic features at field-induced phase transitions consistent with our high-field magnetization data. We cannot evidently resolve a continuumlike feature, even when the long-range magnetic order is presumably suppressed in the strong magnetic field, indicating that a Kitaev-type interaction, if existing, is subleading in this compound.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Low-energy spin excitations in field-induced phases of the spin-ladder antiferromagnet BiCu$_2$PO$_6$

We report on terahertz spectroscopic measurements of quantum spin dynamics on single crystals of a spin-1/2 frustrated spin-ladder antiferromagnet BiCu$_2$PO$_6$ as a function of temperature, polarization, and applied external magnetic fields. Spin triplon excitations are observed at zero field and split in applied magnetic fields. For magnetic fields applied along the crystallographic $a$ axis, a quantum phase transition at $B_{c1}=21.4 \mathrm{T}$ is featured by a low-energy excitation mode emerging above $B_{c1}$ which indicates a gap reopening. For fields along the $b$ axis and the $c$ axis, different field dependencies are observed for the spin triplon excitations, whereas no low-lying modes could be resolved at field-induced phase transitions. We perform a theoretical analysis of the magnetic field dependence of the spin triplon modes by using continuous unitary transformations to determine an effective low energy Hamiltonian. Through an exhaustive parameter search we find numerically optimized parameters to very well describe the experimentally observed modes, which corroborate the importance of significant magnetic anisotropy in the system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Field and Polarization Dependent Quantum Spin Dynamics in Honeycomb Magnet Na$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$: Magnetic Excitations and Continuum

We report terahertz spectroscopic measurements of quantum spin dynamics in the spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet Na$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$ as a function of applied magnetic field with different terahertz polarizations. Distinct field dependencies of the resolved spin dynamics are identified in three regimes, which are separated by two critical fields at $B_{c1}\approx 7$ and $B_{c2}\approx 10$ T. A polarization selective continuum is observed in the intermediate phase, featuring spin fluctuations of a proximate quantum spin liquid.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Spin-lattice and magnetoelectric couplings enhanced by orbital degrees of freedom in polar magnets

Orbital degrees of freedom mediating an interaction between spin and lattice were predicted to raise strong magnetoelectric effect, i.e. realize an efficient coupling between magnetic and ferroelectric orders. However, the effect of orbital fluctuations have been considered only in a few magnetoelectric materials, as orbital degeneracy driven Jahn-Teller effect rarely couples to polarization. Here, we explore the spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic Swedenborgites with mixed valence and Jahn-Teller active transition metal ions on a stacked triangular/Kagome lattice using infrared and dielectric spectroscopy. On one hand, in CaBa$M_4$O$_7$ ($M$ = Co, Fe), we observe strong magnetic order induced shift in the phonon frequencies and a corresponding large change in the dielectric response. Remarkably, as an unusual manifestation of the spin-phonon coupling, the spin-fluctuations reduce the phonon life-time by an order of magnitude at the magnetic phase transitions. On the other hand, lattice vibrations, dielectric response, and electric polarization show no variation at the Néel temperature of CaBaFe$_2$Co$_2$O$_7$, which is built up by orbital singlet ions. Our results provide a showcase for orbital degrees of freedom enhanced magnetoelectric coupling via the example of Swedenborgites.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Magnetoelectric spectroscopy of spin excitations in LiCoPO4

We have studied spin excitations in a single-domain crystal of antiferromagnetic LiCoPO4 by THz absorption spectroscopy. By analyzing the selection rules and comparing the strengths of the absorption peaks in the different antiferromagnetic domains, we found electromagnons and magnetoelectric spin resonances besides conventional magnetic-dipole active spin-wave excitations. Using the sum rule for the magnetoelectric susceptibility we determined the contribution of the spin excitations to all the different off-diagonal elements of the static magnetoelectric susceptibility tensor in zero as well as in finite magnetic fields. We conclude that the magnetoelectric spin resonances are responsible for the static magnetoelectric response of the bulk when the magnetic field is along the x-axis, and the symmetric part of the magnetoelectric tensor with zero diagonal elements dominates over the antisymmetric components.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

The Magnetoelastic Distortion of Multiferroic BiFeO$_3$ in the Canted Antiferromagnetic State

Using THz spectroscopy, we show that the spin-wave spectrum of multiferroic BiFeO$_3$ in its high-field canted antiferromagnetic state is well described by a spin model that violates rhombohedral symmetry. We demonstrate that the monoclinic distortion of the canted antiferromagnetic state is induced by the single-ion magnetoelastic coupling between the lattice and the two nearly anti-parallel spins. The revised spin model for BiFeO$_3$ contains two new single-ion anisotropy terms that violate rhombohedral symmetry and depend on the direction of the magnetic field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Experimental Observation of Quantum Many-Body Excitations of $E_8$ Symmetry in the Ising Chain Ferromagnet CoNb$_2$O$_6$

Close to the quantum critical point of the transverse-field Ising spin-chain model, an exotic dynamic spectrum was predicted to emerge upon a perturbative longitudinal field. The dynamic spectrum consists of eight particles and is governed by the symmetry of the $E_8$ Lie algebra. Here we report on high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy of quantum spin dynamics in the ferromagnetic Ising-chain material CoNb$_2$O$_6$. At 0.25 K in the magnetically ordered phase we identify characteristics of the first six $E_8$ particles, $\mathbf{m}_1$ to $\mathbf{m}_6$, and the two-particle ($\mathbf{m}_1+\mathbf{m}_2$) continuum in an applied transverse magnetic field of $B_c^{1D}=4.75$ T, before the three-dimensional magnetic order is suppressed above $B_c^{3D}\approx 5.3$ T. The observation of the higher-energy particles ($\mathbf{m}_3$ to $\mathbf{m}_6$) above the low-energy two-particle continua features quantum many-body effects in the exotic dynamic spectrum.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Observation of E8 Particles in an Ising Chain Antiferromagnet

Near the transverse-field induced quantum critical point of the Ising chain, an exotic dynamic spectrum consisting of exactly eight particles was predicted, which is uniquely described by an emergent quantum integrable field theory with the symmetry of the $E_8$ Lie algebra, but rarely explored experimentally. Here we use high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy to resolve quantum spin dynamics of the quasi-one-dimensional Ising antiferromagnet BaCo$_2$V$_2$O$_8$ in an applied transverse field. By comparing to an analytical calculation of the dynamical spin correlations, we identify $E_8$ particles as well as their two-particle excitations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Spin excitations of magnetoelectric LiNiPO$_4$ in multiple magnetic phases

Spin excitations of magnetoelectric LiNiPO$_4$ are studied by infrared absorption spectroscopy in the THz spectral range as a function of magnetic field through various commensurate and incommensurate magnetically ordered phases up to 33\,T. Six spin resonances and a strong two-magnon continuum are observed in zero magnetic field. Our systematic polarization study reveals that some of the excitations are usual magnetic-dipole active magnon modes, while others are either electromagnons, electric-dipole active, or magnetoelectric, both electric- and magnetic-dipole active spin excitations. Field-induced shifts of the modes for all three orientations of the field along the orthorhombic axes allow us to refine the values of the relevant exchange couplings, single-ion anisotropies, and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction on the level of a four-sublattice mean-field spin model. This model also reproduces the spectral shape of the two-magnon absorption continuum, found to be electric-dipole active in the experiment.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Magnetoelectric memory function with optical readout

The ultimate goal of multiferroic research is the development of new-generation non-volatile memory devices, the so-called magnetoelectric (ME) memories, where magnetic bits are controlled via electric fields without the application of electrical currents subject to dissipation. This low-power operation exploits the entanglement of the magnetization and the electric polarization coexisting in multiferroic materials. Here we demonstrate the optical readout of ME memory states in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and antiferroelectric (AFE) LiCoPO$_4$, based on the strong absorption difference of THz radiation between its two types of ME domains. This unusual contrast is attributed to the dynamic ME effect of the spin-wave excitations, as confirmed by our microscopic model, which also captures the characteristics of the observed static ME effect. Our proof-of-principle study, demonstrating the control and the optical readout of ME domains in LiCoPO$_4$, lays down the foundation for future ME memory devices based on antiferroelectric-antiferromagnetic insulators.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic resonances of multiferroic TbFe$_3$(BO$_3$)$_4$

Low-energy magnetic excitations of the easy-axis antiferromagnet TbFe$_3$(BO$_3$)$_4$ are investigated by far-infrared absorption and reflection spectroscopy in high magnetic fields up to 30 T. The observed field dependence of the resonance frequencies and the magnetization are reproduced by a mean-field spin model for magnetic fields applied both along and perpendicular to the easy axis. Based on this model we determined the full set of magnetic interactions, including Fe-Fe and Fe-Tb exchange interactions, single-ion anisotropy for Tb ions and $g$-factors, which describe the ground-state spin texture and the low-energy spin excitations of TbFe$_3$(BO$_3$)$_4$. Compared to earlier studies we allow a small canting of the nearly Ising-like Tb moments to achieve a quantitative agreement with the magnetic susceptibility measurements. The additional high energy magnetic resonance lines observed, besides the two resonances expected for a two-sublattice antiferromagnet, suggest a more complex six-sublattice magnetic ground state for TbFe$_3$(BO$_3$)$_4$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Spin-Induced Polarizations and Non-Reciprocal Directional Dichroism of Multiferroic BiFeO$_3$

A microscopic model for the room-temperature multiferroic BiFeO$_3$ that includes two Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions and single-ion anisotropy along the ferroelectric polarization predicts both the zero-field spectroscopic modes as well as their splitting and evolution in a magnetic field. Due to simultaneously broken time-reversal and spatial-inversion symmetries, the absorption of light changes as the magnetic field or the direction of light propagation is reversed. We discuss three physical mechanisms that may contribute to this absorption asymmetry known as non-reciprocal directional dichroism: the spin current, magnetostriction, and single-ion anisotropy. We conclude that the non-reciprocal directional dichroism in \BF is dominated by the spin-current polarization and is insensitive to the magnetostriction and easy-axis anisotropy. With three independent spin-current parameters, our model accurately describes the non-reciprocal directional dichroism observed for magnetic field along $[1,-1,0]$. Since some modes are almost transparent to light traveling in one direction but opaque for light traveling in the opposite direction, BiFeO$_3$ can be used as a room-temperature optical diode at certain frequencies in the GHz to THz range. Our work demonstrates that an analysis of the non-reciprocal directional dichroism spectra based on an effective spin model supplemented by first-principles calculations can produce a quantitative microscopic theory of the magnetoelectric couplings in multiferroic materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Four-coloured Spin-wave Excitations in Multiferroic Materials

The optical magnetoelectric effect, which is an inherent attribute of the spin excitations in multiferroics, drastically changes their optical properties compared to conventional materials where light-matter interaction is expressed only by the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability. Our polarized absorption experiments performed on multiferroic Ca2CoSi2O7 and Ba2CoGe2O7 in the THz spectral range demonstrate that such magnetoeletric spin excitations show quadrochroism, i.e. they have different colours for all the four combinations of the two propagation directions (forward or backward) and the two orthogonal polarizations of a light beam. We found that quadrochroism can give rise to peculiar optical properties, such as one-way transparency and zero-reflection of these excitations, which can open a new horizon in photonics. One-way transparency is also related to the static magnetoelectric phenomena, hence, these optical studies can provide guidelines for the systematic synthesis of new materials with large dc magnetoelectric effect.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Observation of Multiple-Gap Structure in Hidden Order State of URu2Si2 from Optical Conductivity

We have measured the far infrared reflectance of the heavy fermion compound URu$_2$Si$_2$ through the phase transition at T$_{HO}$=17.5 K dubbed 'hidden order' with light polarized along both the a- and c-axes of the tetragonal structure. The optical conductivity allows the formation of the hidden order gap to be investigated in detail. We find that both the conductivity and the gap structure are anisotropic, and that the c-axis conductivity shows evidence for a double gap structure, with $Δ_{1,c}=2.7$ meV and $Δ_{2,c}=1.8$ meV respectively at 4 K, while the gap seen in the a-axis conductivity has a value of $Δ_a=3.2$ meV at 4 K. The opening of the gaps does not follow the behaviour expected from mean field theory in the vicinity of the transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Chirality of Matter Shows Up via Spin Excitations

Right- and left-handed circularly polarized light interact differently with electronic charges in chiral materials. This asymmetry generates the natural circular dichroism and gyrotropy, also known as the optical activity. Here we demonstrate that optical activity is not a privilege of the electronic charge excitations but it can also emerge for the spin excitations in magnetic matter. The square-lattice antiferromagnet Ba$_2$CoGe$_2$O$_7$ offers an ideal arena to test this idea, since it can be transformed to a chiral form by application of external magnetic fields. As a direct proof of the field-induced chiral state, we observed large optical activity when the light is in resonance with spin excitations at sub-terahertz frequencies. In addition, we found that the magnetochiral effect, the absorption difference for the light beams propagating parallel and anti-parallel to the applied magnetic field, has an exceptionally large amplitude close to 100%. All these features are ascribed to the magnetoelectric nature of spin excitations as they interact both with the electric and magnetic components of light.

cond-mat.str-el↗