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Yukitoshi Motome

Publications and source records attributed to Yukitoshi Motome.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Electric-field-induced magnetic toroidal moment and nonlinear magnetoelectric effect in antiferromagnetic olivines

Beyond conventional electric and magnetic monopoles, electric and magnetic toroidal monopoles, which are rank-0 multipoles distinguished by opposite parities under spatial inversion and time reversal, can exist in nature. The recent observation of electric-field-induced directional dichroism in antiferromagnetic olivine Co$_2$SiO$_4$ has provided the first concrete example of a magnetic toroidal monopole; however, its microscopic origin remains elusive. Here, we propose a minimal spin model that incorporates magnetoelectric coupling via the $d$-$p$ hybridization mechanism and analyze it within the mean-field approximation. The model qualitatively reproduces the experimentally observed temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and its pronounced sensitivity to the direction of the applied electric field. Furthermore, it elucidates the temperature evolution of the magnetic toroidal monopole and the strong electric-field-direction dependence of the magnetic toroidal moment. Our calculations also predict a second-order nonlinear magnetoelectric response, consistent with the symmetry classification of Co$_2$SiO$_4$ as an altermagnet. Additionally, we demonstrate that the same framework is applicable to other antiferromagnetic olivines with analogous magnetic order, indicating the robustness and generality of the toroidal-type magnetoelectric response in this material family.

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Topological transition induced by selective random defects on a honeycomb lattice

We investigate how the spectral and topological properties of electron systems evolve on a lattice that interpolates between the honeycomb and its 1/6-depleted structures through the introduction of selective random defects. We find that in certain parameter regimes, the topological properties of the two lattice systems are smoothly connected, whereas in other regimes, selective random defects induce a topological transition. Analysis based on an effective model reveals that the effect of selective random defects can be understood as a modulation of hopping amplitudes. Our results highlight the potential for designing and controlling the spectral and even topological properties of electronic systems across a wide range of material platforms.

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Lessons from $α$-RuCl3 for pursuing quantum spin liquid physics in atomically thin materials

Quantum spin liquids can arise from Kitaev magnetic interactions, and exhibit fractionalized excitations with the potential for a topological form of quantum computation. This review surveys recent experimental and theoretical progress on the pursuit of phenomena related to Kitaev magnetism in layered and exfoliatable materials, which offer numerous opportunities to apply powerful techniques from the field of atomically thin materials. We primarily focus on the antiferromagnetic Mott insulator $α$-RuCl3, which exhibits Kitaev couplings and is readily exfoliated to single- or few-layer sheets, and thus serves as a test bed for developing probes of Kitaev phenomena in atomically thin materials and devices. We introduce the Kitaev model and how it is realized in $α$-RuCl3 and other material candidates; and cover $α$-RuCl3 synthesis and fabrication into van der Waals heterostructure devices. A key discovery is a work-function-mediated charge transfer that heavily dopes both the $α$-RuCl3 and proximate materials, and can enhance Kitaev interactions by up to 50%. We further discuss a wide range of recent results in electronic transport and optical and tunneling spectroscopies of $α$-RuCl3 devices. The experimental techniques and theoretical insights developed for $α$-RuCl3 establish a framework for discovering and engineering superior two-dimensional Kitaev materials that may ultimately realize elusive quantum spin liquid phases.

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Metallic $p$-wave magnet with commensurate spin helix

Antiferromagnetic states with spin-split electronic structure give rise to novel spintronic, magnonic, and electronic phenomena despite (near-) zero net magnetization. The simplest odd-parity spin splitting - $p$-wave - was originally proposed to emerge from a collective instability in interacting electron systems. Recent theory identifies a distinct route to realise $p$-wave spin-split electronic bands without strong correlations, termed $p$-wave magnetism. Here we demonstrate an experimental realisation of a metallic $p$-wave magnet. The odd-parity spin splitting of delocalised conduction electrons arises from their coupling to an antiferromagnetic texture of localised magnetic moments: a coplanar spin helix whose magnetic period is an even multiple of the chemical unit cell, as revealed by X-ray scattering experiments. This texture breaks space inversion symmetry but preserves time-reversal ($T$) symmetry up to a half-unit-cell translation - thereby fulfilling the symmetry conditions for $p$-wave magnetism. Consistent with theoretical predictions, our $p$-wave magnet exhibits a characteristic anisotropy in the electronic conductivity. Relativistic spin-orbit coupling and a tiny spontaneous net magnetization further break $T$ symmetry, resulting in a giant anomalous Hall effect (AHE, $σ_{xy}>600\,$S/cm, Hall angle $>3\,\%$), for an antiferromagnet. Our model calculations show that the spin nodal planes found in the electronic structure of $p$-wave magnets are readily gapped by a small perturbation to induce the AHE.

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Thermal Hall transport in Kitaev spin liquids

We investigate the thermal Hall conductivity in the Kitaev model with additional interactions under a magnetic field, employing a finite-temperature tensor network method benchmarked by a thermal pure quantum state technique. We find that the thermal Hall conductivity divided by temperature, $κ_{xy}/T$, significantly overshoots the value of the half-integer quantization and exhibits a pronounced hump while decreasing temperature. Moreover, we show that the field-direction dependence of $κ_{xy}/T$ is consistent with the sign of the Chern number associated with the Majorana fermions across a wide range of magnetic fields. We also demonstrate that the additional off-diagonal interactions, known as the $Γ$ and $Γ^{\prime}$ terms, considerably affect $κ_{xy}/T$. In particular, we show that positive $Γ$ and negative $Γ^{\prime}$ lead to a remarkable enhancement in the intermediate temperature region. From the comparison with the classical counterpart, we reveal that the effects of the $Γ$ term go beyond the classical picture, indicating significant quantum fluctuation effects, while those of the $Γ^\prime$ term are well captured at the classical level. These comprehensive analyses indicate that the enhanced thermal Hall response is consistently explained by dominant contributions from topological Majorana fermions, even within the polarized regime beyond the critical field. Our approach not only establishes a robust theoretical framework for understanding the thermal Hall transport in Kitaev materials such as $α$-RuCl$_{3}$, but also offers a promising pathway to bridge the gap between theories and experiments across a wide range of strongly correlated materials.

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Topological Majorana flat bands in the Kitaev model on a Bishamon-kikko lattice

We unveil an interesting example of topological flat bands of Majorana fermions in quantum spin liquids. We study the Kitaev model on a periodically depleted honeycomb lattice, under a magnetic field within the perturbation theory. The model can be straightforwardly extended while maintaining the exact solvability, and its ground state is a quantum spin liquid as on the honeycomb lattice. As fractionalized excitations, there are unpaired localized Majorana fermions in addition to the itinerant Majorana fermions and $\mathbb{Z}_2$ fluxes. We show that in the absence of the magnetic field the Majorana fermions have completely flat bands at zero energy, and by applying the magnetic field, they turn into topological flat bands with nonzero Chern number. By varying the anisotropy of the interactions and the magnitude of the magnetic field, we clarify that the system exhibits a variety of topological phases that do not appear in the original model. We emphasize that the topological flat bands that give this rich topology come from the hybridization of the Majorana flat bands and unpaired Majorana fermions, which is unique to the flat bands of fractionalized excitations in quantum spin liquids. Our findings would stimulate the exploration of a new type of Kitaev materials exhibiting rich topology from topological Majorana flat bands.

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Nonrelativistic Piezomagnetic Effect in an Organic Altermagnet

We theoretically study the piezomagnetic effect on the altermagnetic state in $κ$-type molecular conductors, focusing on its nonrelativistic mechanism. By introducing shear stress as a monoclinic distortion, we evaluate variations in the effective tight-binding model using first-principles calculations. Using the derived parameters, we investigate the Hubbard model and its effective Heisenberg model on the two-dimensional (distorted) $κ$-type lattice within mean-field approximation. We show that the system exhibits the piezomagnetic effect, i.e., a net magnetization induced at finite temperatures in the undoped insulating state and both in the ground state and at finite temperatures upon doping. In a real-space picture, this uniform magnetization arises from the ferrimagnetic spin structure due to inequivalent spin sites induced by lattice distortion. Meanwhile, in a momentum-space picture, it stems from the {\it s}-wave spin splitting of the electron and magnon bands, independent of spin-orbit coupling. We find that this nonrelativistic piezomagnetism remains finite, but becomes smaller in the limit of strong dimerization where the energy gap between the bonding and antibonding orbitals is infinitely large and the {\it d}-wave altermagnetic spin splitting is absent, highlighting the importance of the multi-orbital nature.

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Metal-insulator transitions in pyrochlore oxides

Pyrochlore oxides with chemical formula of A2B2O7 exhibit a diverse range of electronic properties as a representative family of quantum materials. These properties mostly stem from strong electron correlations at the transition metal B site and typical geometrical frustration effects on the pyrochlore lattice. Furthermore, the coupling between the magnetic moments of the rare-earth A site and the conduction electrons at the B site, along with the relativistic spin-orbit coupling particularly affecting the 4d/5d electrons at the B site, gives rise to the topological characteristics of the correlated electrons. This review paper focuses on the metal-insulator transitions in pyrochlore oxides as evidence of the strong electron correlation, which is highlighted as a rich source of intriguing charge dynamics coupled with frustrated spin-orbital entangled magnetism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Quantum reservoir probing of quantum phase transitions

Quantum phase transitions are highly remarkable phenomena manifesting in quantum many-body systems. However, their precise identifications in equilibrium systems pose significant theoretical and experimental challenges. Thus far, dynamical detection protocols employing global quantum quenches have been proposed, wherein transitions are discerned via global nonequilibrium excitations. In this work, we demonstrate that quantum phase transitions can be detected through localized out-of-equilibrium excitations induced by local quantum quenches. While the resulting dynamics after the quench is influenced by both the local quench operation and the intrinsic dynamics of the quantum system, the effects of the former are exclusively extracted using the cutting-edge framework called quantum reservoir probing (QRP). Through the QRP, we find that the impacts of the local quenches vary across different quantum phases and are significantly suppressed by quantum fluctuations amplified near quantum critical points; consequently, phase boundaries are precisely delineated. We demonstrate that the QRP can detect quantum phase transitions in the paradigmatic integrable and nonintegrable quantum spin systems, and even topological quantum phase transitions, all within the identical framework employing local quantum quenches and single-site observables.

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Spin Seebeck Effect as a Probe for Majorana Fermions in Kitaev Spin Liquids

Quantum entanglement in strongly correlated electron systems often leads to exotic elementary excitations. Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) provide a paradigmatic example, where the elementary excitations are described by fractional quasiparticles such as spinons. However, such fractional quasiparticles behave differently from electrons, making their experimental identification challenging. Here, we theoretically investigate the spin Seebeck effect, which is a thermoelectric response via a spin current, as an efficient probe of the fractional quasiparticles in QSLs, focusing on the Kitaev honeycomb model. By comprehensive studies using the real-time dynamics, the perturbation theory, and the linear spin-wave theory based on the tunnel spin-current theory, we find that the spin current is induced by thermal gradient in the Kitaev spin liquid, via the low-energy fractional Majorana excitations. This underscores the ability of Majorana fermions to carry spin current, despite lacking spin angular momentum. Furthermore, we find that the induced spin current changes its sign depending on the sign of the Kitaev interaction, indicating that the Majorana fermions contribute to the spin current with (up-)down-spin like nature when the exchange coupling is (anti)ferromagnetic. Thus, in contrast to the negative spin current already found in a one-dimensional QSL, our finding reveals that the spin Seebeck effect can exhibit either positive or negative signals, contingent upon the nature of fractional excitations in the QSLs. We also clarify contrasting field-angle dependence between the Kitaev spin liquid in the low-field limit and the high-field ferromagnetic state, which is useful for the experimental identification. Our finding suggests that the spin Seebeck effect could be used not only to detect fractional quasiparticles emerging in QSLs but also to generate and control them.

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Possible Realization of Kitaev Spin Liquids in van der Waals Heterostructures of $α$-RuCl$_3$ and Cr$X_3$ ($X$=Cl and I)

Despite the presence of the exact solution and well-established recipe for its realization, the quest for the Kitaev spin liquid in real materials remains exceptionally challenging. Among many magnets, $α$-RuCl$_3$ emerges as a prime candidate, albeit the hallmarks of the spin liquid manifest only within the specific region where the zigzag-type antiferromagnetic order is suppressed by an applied magnetic field. Here, we propose the possible realization of the Kitaev spin liquid at zero field by making van der Waals heterostructures of $α$-RuCl$_3$ and a ferromagnet Cr$X_3$ ($X$=Cl and I). Using {\it ab initio} calculations, we find that in the case of $X$=Cl the zigzag order is suppressed by the proximity effect of the ferromagnetic CrCl$_3$ layer, while the Kitaev interaction is still relevant in the $α$-RuCl$_3$ layer. Notably, the induced Ru moment is close to the value observed in the spin liquid region of the bulk material, signifying the possibility of the Kitaev spin liquid at zero field. In contrast, in the case of $X$=I, the system is on the verge of an insulator-metal transition by carrier doping through interlayer hybridization. Our results indicate that van der Waals heterostructures provide a new platform for studying not only magnetic but also electronic properties of the Kitaev magnets.

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Altermagnetic Perovskites

Altermagnet is a class of antiferromagnets, which shows a staggered spin ordering with wave vector ${\bm q}=0$, while its net magnetization is canceled out in the limit of zero relativistic spin-orbit coupling. The simplest case is when the up and down spins are ordered on two crystallographically equivalent sublattice sites within the unit cell that are not connected by translation, and consequently, the system breaks the macroscopic time-reversal symmetry. Accordingly, it exhibits non-relativistic spin splitting in the energy band and characteristic cross-correlation phenomena between spin, charge, and lattice (orbital) degrees of freedom. This is in contrast to conventional Néel-type antiferromagnets with ${\bm q} \neq 0$ conserving the macroscopic time-reversal symmetry, where the time-reversal operation flipping of spins combined with translation can make the system identical to the original state. Altermagneticsm is universally latent in various magnetic materials that have been considered as simple collinear-type antiferromagnets. In this article, we focus on perovskites with chemical formula {\it ABX}$_3$, which are typical playgrounds for strongly correlated electron systems, and overview their altermagnetic aspects that have been overlooked in the past researches, based on microscopic model studies revealing the mechanisms of their properties. We display that a combination of a variety of antiferromagnetic ordering and the commonly-seen lattice distortions in perovskites gives rise to a non-relativistic spin splitting whose mechanism does not rely on the spin-orbit coupling and its consequent spin current generation, and the anomalous Hall effect in the presence of the spin-orbit coupling.

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Three-dimensional Topological Superstructure of Magnetic Hopfions Threaded by Meron Strings in Easy-plane Magnets

Topological spin textures exhibit a hierarchical nature. For instance, magnetic skyrmions, which possess a particle-like nature, can aggregate to form superstructures such as skyrmion strings and skyrmion lattices. Magnetic hopfions are also regarded as superstructures constructed from closed loops of twisted skyrmion strings, which behave as another independent particles. However, it remains elusive whether such magnetic hopfions can also aggregate to form higher-level superstructures. Here, we report a stable superstructure with three-dimensional periodic arrangement of magnetic hopfions in a frustrated spin model with easy-plane anisotropy. By comprehensively examining effective interactions between two hopfions, we construct the hopfion superstructure by a staggered arrangement of one-dimensional hopfion chains with Hopf number $H=+1$ and $H=-1$ running perpendicular to the easy plane. Each hopfion chain is threaded by a magnetic meron string, resulting in a nontrivial topological texture with skyrmion number $N_{\rm sk}=2$ per magnetic unit cell on any two-dimensional cut parallel to the easy plane. We show that the hopfion superstructure remains robust as a metastable state across a range of the hopfion density. Furthermore, we demonstrate that superstructures with higher Hopf number can also be stabilized. Our findings extend the existing hierarchy of topological magnets and pave the way for exploring new quantum phenomena and spin dynamics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Soliton penetration from edges in a monoaxial chiral magnet

The magnetic solitons such as chiral solitons, magnetic skyrmions, and magnetic hopfions, exhibiting particlelike nature widely emerge in magnets depending on spatial dimension. As their number directly gives rise to an impact on magnetic properties and electronic properties, it is of great importance to control the number of solitons. However, a systematic study on dynamical processes to control the number of solitons, particularly by adding the desired number of solitons to the ground state exhibiting periodic arrangements of solitons, has been limited thus far. Here, we theoretically perform the systematic analysis for the dynamical control of the number of chiral solitons in monoaxial chiral magnets by effectively utilizing the edge modes whose excitation is localized near the edges. By studying the dynamical process associated with this edge mode in an applied rotating magnetic field by using the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, we show that multiple soliton penetrations can take place until the system reaches the nonequilibrium steady state, and the number of infiltrated solitons successively increases with the amplitude of the rotating magnetic field after surpassing the threshold. We also clarify that the threshold amplitude of the rotating magnetic field can be reduced through the static magnetic field. Our results reveal that the desired number of solitons can be added within a certain range by taking advantage of the edge modes that appear without any special processing at the edges of the system. These results contribute to the development of an experimental way to control the number of solitons and are expected to be further applied to a wide range of magnetic solitons, not limited to chiral solitons.

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Eight-color chiral spin liquid in the $S=1$ bilinear-biquadratic model with Kitaev interactions

Multipolar spin systems provide a rich ground for the emergence of unexpected states of matter due to their enlarged spin degree of freedom. In this study, with a specific emphasis on $S=1$ magnets, we explore the interplay between spin nematic states and spin liquids. Based on the foundations laid in the prior work [R. Pohle et al., Phys. Rev. B 107, L140403 (2023)], we investigate the $S=1$ Kitaev model with bilinear-biquadratic interactions, which stabilizes, next to Kitaev spin liquid, spin nematic and triple-$q$ phases, also an exotic chiral spin liquid. Through a systematic reduction of the spin degree of freedom -- from $\mathbb{CP}^{2}$ to $\mathbb{CP}^{1}$ and ultimately to a discrete eight-color model -- we provide an intuitive understanding of the nature and origin of this chiral spin liquid. We find that the chiral spin liquid is characterized by an extensive ground-state degeneracy, bound by a residual entropy, extremely short-ranged correlations, a nonzero scalar spin chirality marked by $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ flux order, and a gapped continuum of excitations. Our work contributes not only to the specific exploration of $S=1$ Kitaev magnets but also to the broader understanding of the importance of multipolar spin degree of freedom on the ground state and excitation properties in quantum magnets.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Quantum reservoir probing: an inverse paradigm of quantum reservoir computing for exploring quantum many-body physics

Quantum reservoir computing (QRC) is a brain-inspired computational paradigm, exploiting natural dynamics of a quantum system for information processing. To date, a multitude of quantum systems have been utilized in the QRC, with diverse computational capabilities demonstrated accordingly. This study proposes a reciprocal research direction: probing quantum systems themselves through their information processing performance in the QRC framework. Building upon this concept, here we develop quantum reservoir probing (QRP), an inverse extension of the QRC. The QRP establishes an operator-level linkage between physical properties and performance in computing. A systematic scan of this correspondence reveals intrinsic quantum dynamics of the reservoir system from computational and informational perspectives. Unifying quantum information and quantum matter, the QRP holds great promise as a potent tool for exploring various aspects of quantum many-body physics. In this study, we specifically apply it to analyze information propagation in a one-dimensional quantum Ising chain. We demonstrate that the QRP not only distinguishes between ballistic and diffusive information propagation, reflecting the system's dynamical characteristics, but also identifies system-specific information propagation channels, a distinct advantage over conventional methods.

quant-ph↗

Current-induced motion of nanoscale magnetic torons over the wide range of the Hall angle

Current-driven dynamics of spin textures plays a pivotal role in potential applications for electronic devices. While two-dimensional magnetic skyrmions with topologically nontrivial spin textures have garnered significant interest, their practical use is hindered by the skyrmion Hall effect $\unicode{x2014}$ a transverse motion to the current direction that occurs as a counteraction to the topological Hall effect of electrons by an emergent magnetic field arising from the Berry phase effect. Here, we explore current-driven dynamics of three-dimensional topological spin textures known as magnetic torons, composed of layered skyrmions with two singularities called Bloch points at their ends. Through extensive numerical simulations, we show that the torons also exhibit a Hall motion, but surprisingly over a wide range spanning from the zero Hall effect, a purely longitudinal motion, to the perfect Hall effect, a purely transverse motion accompanied by no longitudinal motion. Such flexible and controllable behaviors stem from anisotropic potential barriers on the discrete lattice, which can be particularly relevant for nanoscale torons recently discovered. Our results not only provide an experimental method to probe topology of three-dimensional magnetic textures but also pave the way for future developments in topological spintronics beyond the realm of skyrmions.

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Magnetic field effects on the Kitaev model coupled to environment

Open quantum systems display unusual phenomena not seen in closed systems, such as new topological phases and unconventional phase transitions. An interesting example was studied for a quantum spin liquid in the Kitaev model [K. Yang, S. C. Morampudi, and E. J. Bergholtz, Phys. Rev. Lett. ${\bf 126}$, 077201 (2021)]; an effective non-Hermitian Kitaev model, which incorporates dissipation effects, was shown to give rise to a gapless spin liquid state with exceptional points in the Majorana dispersions. Given that an external magnetic field induces a gapped Majorana topological state in the Hermitian case, the exceptional points may bring about intriguing quantum phenomena under a magnetic field. Here we investigate the non-Hermitian Kitaev model perturbed by the magnetic field. We show that the exceptional points remain gapless up to a finite critical magnetic field, in stark contrast to the Hermitian case where an infinitesimal field opens a gap. The gapless state is stable over a wide range of the magnetic field for some particular parameter sets, and in special cases, undergoes topological transitions to another gapless state with different winding number around the exceptional points without opening a gap. In addition, in the system with edges, we find that the non-Hermitian skin effect is induced by the magnetic field, even for the parameters where the skin effect is absent at zero field. The chirality of edge states is switched through the exceptional points, similarly to the surface Fermi arcs connected by the Weyl points in three-dimensional Weyl semimetals. Our results provide a new possible route to stabilize topological gapless quantum spin liquids under the magnetic field in the presence of dissipation.

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