arXiv subjects

W. Assmus

Publications and source records attributed to W. Assmus.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Spin relaxation in Cs$_2$CuCl$_{4-x}$Br$_x$

The quantum-spin S = 1=2 chain system Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$ is of high interest due to competing anti-ferromagnetic intra-chain J and inter-chain exchange J' interactions and represents a paramount example for Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons [R. Coldea et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 137202 (2002)]. Substitution of chlorine by bromine allows tuning the competing exchange interactions and corresponding magnetic frustration. Here we report on electron spin resonance (ESR) in single crystals of Cs$_2$CuCl$_{4-x}$Br$_x$ with the aim to analyze the evolution of anisotropic exchange contributions. The main source of the ESR linewidth is attributed to the uniform Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. The vector components of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are determined from the angular dependence of the ESR spectra using a high-temperature approximation. The obtained results support the site selectivity of the Br substitution suggested from the evolution of lattice parameters and magnetic susceptibility dependent on the Br concentration.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Magneto-acoustic study near the quantum critical point of the frustrated quantum antiferromagnet Cs2CuCl4

Magneto-acoustic investigations of the frustrated triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Cs2CuCl4 were performed for the longitudinal modes c11 and c33 in magnetic fields along the a-axis. The temperature dependence of the sound velocity at zero field shows a mild softening at low temperature and displays a small kink-like anomaly at TN. Isothermal measurements at T < TN of the sound attenuation reveal two closely-spaced features of different character on approaching the materials quantum-critical point (QCP) around Bs = 8.5 T for B // a. The peak at slightly lower fields remains sharp down to the lowest temperature and can be attributed to the ordering temperature TN(B). The second anomaly which is rounded and which becomes reduced in size upon cooling is assigned to the materials spin-liquid properties preceding the long-range antiferromagnetic ordering. These two features merge upon cooling suggesting a coincidence at the QCP. The elastic constant at lowest temperatures of our experiment at 32 mK can be well described by a Landau free energy model with a very small magnetoelastic coupling constant G/kB = 2.8 K. The applicability of this classical model indicates the existence of a small gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum which drives the system away from quantum criticality.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Elastic constants and ultrasound attenuation in the spin-liquid phase of Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$

The spin excitations in the spin-liquid phase of the anisotropic triangular lattice quantum antiferromagnet Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$ have been shown to propagate dominantly along the crystallographic $b$ axis. To test this dimensional reduction scenario, we have performed ultrasound experiments in the spin-liquid phase of Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$ probing the elastic constant $c_{22}$ and the sound attenuation along the $b$ axis as a function of an external magnetic field along the $a$ axis. We show that our data can be quantitatively explained within the framework of a nearest-neighbor spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg chain, where fermions are introduced via the Jordan-Wigner transformation and the spin-phonon interaction arises from the usual exchange-striction mechanism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Spin correlations and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$

We report on electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of the spin relaxation in Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$. The main source of the ESR linewidth at temperatures $T \leq 150$ K is attributed to the uniform Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. The vector components of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are determined from the angular dependence of the ESR spectra using a high-temperature approximation. Both the angular and temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth have been analyzed using a self-consistent quantum-mechanical approach. In addition analytical expressions based on a quasi-classical picture for spin fluctuations are derived, which show good agreement with the quantum-approach for temperatures $T \geq 2J/k_{\rm B} \approx 15$ K. A small modulation of the ESR linewidth observed in the $ac$-plane is attributed to the anisotropic Zeeman interaction, which reflects the two magnetically nonequivalent Cu positions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

The stable phases of the Cs2CuCl4-xBrx mixed systems

Starting from Cs2CuCl4 and Cs2CuBr4 our project focuses on the growth of the Cs2CuCl4-xBrx mixed crystals from aqueous solution and the investigation of the occurring structural variations. The well known orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) of the end members of this system is interrupted within the intermediate composition range Cs2CuCl3Br1 - Cs2CuCl2Br2, if the growth takes place at room temperature. Within this range a new tetragonal phase is found (space group I4/mmm). However, in case the growth temperature will be increased to 50 °C, the existence of the orthorhombic structure can be extended over the whole Cs2CuCl4-xBrx mixed system. A detailed analysis of the composition dependence of the lattice parameters is used to draw conclusions on the incorporation of Cl- and Br-ions at different sites which is important for the magnetic interactions between the Cu-ions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetic cooling near a field-induced quantum-critical point

The presence of a quantum critical point (QCP) can significantly affect the thermodynamic properties of a material at finite temperatures T. This is reflected, e.g., in the entropy landscape S(T, r) in the vicinity of a QCP, yielding particularly strong variations for varying the tuning parameter r such as pressure or magnetic field B. Here we report on the determination of the critical enhancement of $ δS / δB$ near a B-induced QCP via absolute measurements of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE), $(δT / δB)_S$, and demonstrate that the accumulation of entropy around the QCP can be used for efficient low-temperature magnetic cooling. Our proof of principle is based on measurements and theoretical calculations of the MCE and the cooling performance for a Cu$^{2+}$-containing coordination polymer, which is a very good realization of a spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain - one of the simplest quantum-critical systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Distinct magnetic regimes through site-selective atom substitution in the frustrated quantum antiferromagnet Cs$_2$CuCl$_{4-x}$Br$_x$

We report on a systematic study of the magnetic properties on single crystals of the solid solution Cs$_2$CuCl$_{4-x}$Br$_x$ (0 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 4), which include the two known end-member compounds Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$ and Cs$_2$CuBr$_4$, classified as quasi-two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets with different degrees of magnetic frustration. By comparative measurements of the magnetic susceptibility $χ$($T$) on as many as eighteen different Br concentrations, we found that the inplane and out-of-plane magnetic correlations, probed by the position and height of a maximum in the magnetic susceptibility, respectively, do not show a smooth variation with x. Instead three distinct concentration regimes can be identified, which are separated by critical concentrations x$_{c1}$ = 1 and x$_{c2}$ = 2. This unusual magnetic behavior can be explained by considering the structural peculiarities of the materials, especially the distorted Cu-halide tetrahedra, which support a site-selective replacement of Cl- by Br- ions. Consequently, the critical concentrations x$_{c1}$ (x$_{c2}$) mark particularly interesting systems, where one (two) halidesublattice positions are fully occupied.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Effects of Two Energy Scales in Weakly Dimerized Antiferromagnetic Quantum Spin Chains

By means of thermal expansion and specific heat measurements on the high-pressure phase of (VO)$_2$P$_2$O$_7$, the effects of two energy scales of the weakly dimerized antiferromagnetic $S$ = 1/2 Heisenberg chain are explored. The low energy scale, given by the spin gap $Δ$, is found to manifest itself in a pronounced thermal expansion anomaly. A quantitative analysis, employing T-DMRG calculations, shows that this feature originates from changes in the magnetic entropy with respect to $Δ$, $\partial S^{m}/ \partial Δ$. This term, inaccessible by specific heat, is visible only in the weak-dimerization limit where it reflects peculiarities of the excitation spectrum and its sensitivity to variations in $Δ$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Magnetic excitations in SrCu2O3: a Raman scattering study

We investigated temperature dependent Raman spectra of the one-dimensional spin-ladder compound SrCu2O3. At low temperatures a two-magnon peak is identified at 3160+/-10 cm^(-1) and its temperature dependence analyzed in terms of a thermal expansion model. We find that the two-magnon peak position must include a cyclic ring exchange of J_cycl/J_perp=0.09-0.25 with a coupling constant along the rungs of J_perp approx. 1215 cm^(-1) (1750 K) in order to be consistent with other experiments and theoretical results.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Spin-modulated quasi-1D antiferromagnet LiCuVO_4

We report on magnetic resonance studies within the magnetically ordered phase of the quasi-1D antiferromagnet LiCuVO_4. Our studies reveal a spin reorientational transition at a magnetic field H_c1 ~ 25 kOe applied within the crystallographical (ab)-plane in addition to the recently observed one at H_c2 \~75 kOe [ M.G. Banks et al., cond-mat/0608554 (2006)]. Spectra of the antiferromagnetic resonance (AFMR) along low-frequency branches can be described in the frame of a macroscopic theory of exchange-rigid planar magnetic structures. These data allow to obtain the anisotropy of the exchange interaction together with a constant of the uniaxial anisotropy. Spectra of 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) show that, within the magnetically ordered phase of LiCuVO_4 in the low-field range H < H_c1, a planar spiral spin structure is realized with the spins lying in the (ab)-plane in agreement with neutron scattering studies of B.J. Gibson et al. [Physica B Vol. 350, 253 (2004)]. Based on NMR spectra simulations, the transition at H_c1 can well be described as a spin-flop transition, where the spin plane of the magnetically ordered structure rotates to be perpendicular to the direction of the applied magnetic field. For H > H_c2 ~ 75 kOe, our NMR spectra simulations show that the magnetically ordered structure exhibits a modulation of the spin projections along the direction of the applied magnetic field H.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Raman Response of Magnetic Excitations in Cuprate Ladders and Planes

An unified picture for the Raman response of magnetic excitations in cuprate spin-ladder compounds is obtained by comparing calculated two-triplon Raman line-shapes with those of the prototypical compounds SrCu2O3 (Sr123), Sr14Cu24O41 (Sr14), and La6Ca8Cu24O41 (La6Ca8). The theoretical model for the two-leg ladder contains Heisenberg exchange couplings J_parallel and J_perp plus an additional four-spin interaction J_cyc. Within this model Sr123 and Sr14 can be described by x:=J_parallel/J_perp=1.5, x_cyc:=J_cyc/J_perp=0.2, J_perp^Sr123=1130 cm^-1 and J_perp^Sr14=1080 cm^-1. The couplings found for La6Ca8 are x=1.2, x_cyc=0.2, and J_perp^La6Ca8=1130 cm^-1. The unexpected sharp two-triplon peak in the ladder materials compared to the undoped two-dimensional cuprates can be traced back to the anisotropy of the magnetic exchange in rung and leg direction. With the results obtained for the isotropic ladder we calculate the Raman line-shape of a two-dimensional square lattice using a toy model consisting of a vertical and a horizontal ladder. A direct comparison of these results with Raman experiments for the two-dimensional cuprates R2CuO4 (R=La,Nd), Sr2CuO2Cl2, and YBa2Cu3O(6+delta) yields a good agreement for the dominating two-triplon peak. We conclude that short range quantum fluctuations are dominating the magnetic Raman response in both, ladders and planes. We discuss possible scenarios responsible for the high-energy spectral weight of the Raman line-shape, i.e. phonons, the triple-resonance and multi-particle contributions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Doping Effects on the Charge-Density-Wave Dynamics in Blue Bronze

The temperature dependences of the dc resistivity and the nonlinear transport properties in pure, Rb-doped, and W-doped blue bronze K$_{0.3}$MoO$_{3}$ single crystals are presented. In comparison with the Rb doping, the W doping has larger effects on the electrical transport properties and the Peierls transition. In particular, the maximum in the temperature dependence of the threshold field for nonlinear transport, observed in pure and Rb-doped samples around 100 K, is absent in W-doped K$_{0.3}$MoO$_{3}$. These results are discussed with respect to the proposed incommensurate-commensurate transition of the charge-density-wave and its interaction with impurities and normal carriers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

The local atomic quasicrystal structure of the icosahedral Mg25Y11Zn64 alloy

A local and medium range atomic structure model for the face centred icosahedral (fci) Mg25Y11Zn64 alloy has been established in a sphere of r = 27 A. The model was refined by least squares techniques using the atomic pair distribution (PDF) function obtained from synchrotron powder diffraction. Three hierarchies of the atomic arrangement can be found: (i) five types of local coordination polyhedra for the single atoms, four of which are of Frank-Kasper type. In turn, they (ii) form a three-shell (Bergman) cluster containing 104 atoms, which is condensed sharing its outer shell with its neighbouring clusters and (iii) a cluster connecting scheme corresponding to a three-dimensional tiling leaving space for few glue atoms. Inside adjacent clusters, Y8-cubes are tilted with respect to each other and thus allow for overall icosahedral symmetry. It is shown that the title compound is essentially isomorphic to its holmium analogue. Therefore fci-Mg-Y-Zn can be seen as the representative structure type for the other rare earth analogues fci-Mg-Zn-RE (RE = Dy, Er, Ho, Tb) reported in the literature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Local 3D real space atomic structure of the simple icosahedral Ho11Mg15Zn74 quasicrystal from PDF data

We present a new complementary strategy to quasicrystalline structure determination: The local atomic structure of simple icosahedral (si) Ho11Mg15Zn74 [a(6D)=5.144(3)A] in a sphere of up to r=17A was refined using the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) from in-house X-ray powder diffraction data (MoKa1, Qmax=13.5A-1; R=20.4%). The basic building block is a 105-atom Bergman-Cluster {Ho8Mg12Zn85}. Its center is occupied by a Zn atom - in contrast to a void in face centred icosahedral (fci) Ho9Mg26Zn65. The center is then surrounded by another 12 Zn atoms, forming an icosahedron (1st shell). The 2nd shell is made up of 8 Ho atoms arranged on the vertices of a cube which in turn is completed to a pentagon dodecahedron by 12 Mg atoms, the dodecahedron then being capped by 12 Zn atoms. The 3rd shell is a distorted soccer ball of 60 Zn atoms, reflecting the higher Zn content of the si phase compared to the fci phase. In our model, 7% of all atoms are situated in between the clusters. The model corresponds to a hypothetical 1/1-approximant of the icosahedral (i) phase. The local coordinations of the single atoms are of a much distorted Frank-Kasper type and call to mind those present in 0/1-Mg2Zn11.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Medium range real atomic structure of face centred icosahedral Ho9Mg26Zn65

A new approach to solve quasicrystalline atomic structures in 3-dimensional (3D) real space is presented: The atomic pair distribution function (PDF) of face centred icosahedral Ho9Mg26Zn65 [a(6D) = 2x5.18(3)A was obtained from in-house X-ray diffraction data (MoKa1). Starting with rational approximant models, derived from 1/1- and 2/1-Al-Mg-Zn, its local and medium range structure was refined (r < 27A; R = 12.9%) using the PDF data. 85% of all atoms show Frank-Kasper (FK) type coordinations. Basic structural unit is the 3-shell, 104-atom Bergman cluster (d = 15A comprising a void at its center. The clusters are interconnected sharing common edges and hexagonal faces of the 3rd shells. The remaining space is filled by some glue atoms (9% of all atoms), yielding an almost tetrahedrally close packed structure. All Ho atoms are surrounded by 16 neighbours (FK-polyhedron "P"). Most of them (89%) are situated in the 2nd shell (pentagon dodecahedron), the other act as glue atoms. As a result and as can be expected for real matter, local atomic coordinations in quasicrystals are similar compared to common crystalline intermetallic compounds. From our results, the long range quasiperiodic structure of icosahedral Mg-Zn-RE (RE = Y and some rare earths) is anticipated to be a canonical cell tiling (CCT, after Henely) decorated with Bergman clusters.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2002

Anisotropic Exchange in LiCuVO$_4$ probed by ESR

We investigated the paramagnetic resonance in single crystals of LiCuVO$_4$ with special attention to the angular variation of the absorption spectrum. To explain the large resonance linewidth of the order of 1 kOe, we analyzed the anisotropic exchange interaction in the chains of edge-sharing CuO$_6$ octahedra, taking into account the ring-exchange geometry of the nearest-neighbor coupling via two symmetric rectangular Cu-O bonds. The exchange parameters, which can be estimated from theoretical considerations, nicely agree with the parameters obtained from the angular dependence of the linewidth. The anisotropy of this magnetic ring exchange is found to be much larger than it is usually expected from conventional estimations which neglect the bonding geometry. Hence, the data yield the evidence that in copper oxides with edge-sharing structures the role of the orbital degrees of freedom is strongly enhanced. These findings establish LiCuVO$_4$ as one-dimensional compound at high temperatures. PACS: 76.30.-v, 76.30.Fc, 75.30.Et

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Magnetoelastic coupling and spin excitations in the spin-gap system (VO)$_2$P$_2$O$_7$: A Raman scattering study

Single crystals of the spin-gap system $\rm (VO)_2P_2O_7$ have been investigated by means of Raman scattering. At temperatures below T=75 K~$\approx 2Δ_{01}({\bf k}=0)$, with $Δ_{01}$ the singlet-triplet gap, a shoulder appears at 47 cm$^{-1}$. An analysis of the polarization selection rules and the temperature dependence of the scattering intensity leads to its identification as a singlet bound state with very small binding energy. Therefore in contrast to recent theoretical models the importance of frustration for this compound must be rejected. The observation of a strong anharmonicity of three phonons with energies close to $Δ_{01}$ at the zone boundary and additional quasielastic light scattering, however, both point to a strong spin-phonon coupling in this system. We propose this coupling to be the origin of the second bound triplet state observed in recent neutron scattering experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1997

Magnetic Properties of the low dimensional spin system (VO)$_2$P$_2$O$_{7}$: ESR and susceptibility

Experimental results on magnetic resonance (ESR) and magnetic susceptibility are given for single crystalline (VO)$_2$P$_2$O$_{7}$. The crystal growth procedure is briefly discussed. The susceptibility is interpreted numerically using a model with alternating spin chains. We determine $J$=51 K and $δ$=0.2. Furthermore we find a spin gap of $\approx 6$meV from our ESR measurements. Using elastic constants no indication of a phase transition forcing the dimerization is seen below 300 K.

cond-mat↗