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Z. Fisk

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Fisk.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Evidence for local structural symmetry-breaking in Ca$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$B$_{6}$

In this work we present a systematic Raman Scattering study in the Ca$_{1-x}$% Eu$_{x}$B$_{6}$ series ($0.00\leqslant x\leqslant 1.00$). Our results are the first experimental evidence for the occurrence of a local symmetry break of the crystalline structure in this system. The local symmetry of some Boron octahedra is tetragonal instead of cubic. This result may explain the appearance of ferromagnetism in Eu-hexaborades since magnetic ordering is forbidden in the $O_{h}$ space group of this system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Crystal-field effects in the mixed-valence compounds Yb2M3Ga9 (M= Rh, Ir)

Magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and electrical resistivity measurements have been carried out on single crystals of the intermediate valence compounds Yb2Rh3Ga9 and Yb2Ir3Ga9. These measurements reveal a large anisotropy due apparently to an interplay between crystalline electric field (CEF) and Kondo effects. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility can be modelled using the Anderson impurity model including CEF within an approach based on the Non-Crossing Approximation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Gradual transition from insulator to semimetal of Ca$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$B$_{6}$ with increasing Eu concentration

The local environment of Eu$^{2+}$ ($4f^{7}$, $S=7/2$) in Ca$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$B$_{6}$ ($0.003\leqslant x\leqslant 1.00$) is investigated by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). For $x\lesssim 0.003$ the spectra show resolved \textit{fine} and \textit{hyperfine} structures due to the cubic crystal \textit{electric} field and nuclear \textit{hyperfine} field, respectively. The resonances have Lorentzian line shape, indicating an \textit{insulating} environment for the Eu$^{2+}$ ions. For $0.003\lesssim x\lesssim 0.07$, as $x$ increases, the ESR lines broaden due to local distortions caused by the Eu/Ca ions substitution. For $0.07\lesssim x\lesssim 0.30$, the lines broaden further and the spectra gradually change from Lorentzian to Dysonian resonances, suggesting a coexistence of both \textit{insulating} and \textit{metallic} environments for the Eu$^{2+}$ ions. In contrast to Ca$_{1-x}$Gd$_{x}$B$_{6}$, the \textit{fine} structure is still observable up to $x\approx 0.15$. For $x\gtrsim 0.30 $ the \textit{fine} and \textit{hyperfine} structures are no longer observed, the line width increases, and the line shape is purely Dysonian anticipating the \textit{semimetallic} character of EuB$_{6}$. This broadening is attributed to a spin-flip scattering relaxation process due to the exchange interaction between conduction and Eu$^{2+}$ $4f$ electrons. High field ESR measurements for $x\gtrsim 0.15$ reveal smaller and anisotropic line widths, which are attributed to magnetic polarons and Fermi surface effects, respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Magnetic phase separation in EuB6 detected by muon spin rotation

We report results of the first muon-spin rotation measurements performed on the low carrier density ferromagnet EuB$_6$. The ferromagnetic state is reached via two magnetic transitions at $T_{\rm m}=16.5$ K and $T_{\rm c}=12.6$ K. Two distinct components are resolved in the muon data, one oscillatory and one non-oscillatory, which arise from different types of magnetic environment, and we have followed the temperature dependence of these components in detail. These results provide evidence for magnetic phase separation and can be interpreted in terms of the gradual coalescing of magnetic polarons.

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Magnetic field-tuned quantum critical point in CeAuSb_2

Transport, magnetic and thermal properties at high magnetic fields (H) and low temperatures (T) of the heavy fermion compound CeAuSb_2 are reported. At H=0 this layered system exhibits antiferromagnetic order below T_N = 6 K. Applying B along the inter-plane direction, leads to a continuous suppression of T_N and a quantum critical point at H_c ~ 5.4 T. Although it exhibits Fermi liquid behavior within the Neel phase, in the paramagnetic state the fluctuations associated with H_c give rise to unconventional behavior in the resistivity (sub-linear in T) and to a TlnT dependence in the magnetic contribution to the specific heat. For H > H_c and low T the electrical resistivity exhibits an unusual T^3-dependence.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Kondo Behavior of U in CaB$_6$

Replacing U for Ca in semiconducting CaB$_6$ at the few at.% level induces metallic behaviour and Kondo-type phenomena at low temperatures, a rather unusual feature for U impurities in metallic hosts. For Ca$_{0.992}$U$_{0.008}$B$_6$, the resistance minimum occurs at $T$ = 17 K. The subsequent characteristic logarithmic increase of the resistivity with decreasing temperature merges into the expected $T^2$ dependence below 0.8 K. Data of the low-temperature specific heat and the magnetization are analyzed by employing a simple resonance-level model. Analogous measurements on LaB$_6$ with a small amount of U revealed no traces of Kondo behavior, above 0.4 K.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Suppression of the $γ-α$ structural phase transition in $Ce_{0.8} La_{0.1} Th_{0.1}$ by large magnetic fields

The $γ-α$ transition in Ce$_{0.8}$La$_{0.1}$Th$_{0.1}$ is measured as a function of applied magnetic field using both resistivity and magnetization. The $γ- α$ transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic field, reaching zero temperature at around 56 T. The magnetic-field dependence of the transition temperature may be fitted using a model that invokes the field and temperature dependence of the entropy of the $4f$-electron moments of the $γ$ phase, suggesting that the volume collapse in Ce and its alloys is primarily driven by entropic considerations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Percolation and Colossal Magnetoresistance in Eu-based Hexaborides

Upon substituting Ca for Eu in the local-moment ferromagnet EuB$_6$, the Curie temperature $T_C$ decreases substantially with increasing dilution of the magnetic sublattice and is completely suppressed for $x$ $\leq$ 0.3. The Ca substitution leads to significant changes of the electronic properties across the Eu$_x$Ca$_{1-x}$B$_6$ series. Electron microscopy data for $x$ $\approx$ 0.27 indicate a phase separation into Eu- and Ca-rich clusters of 5 to 10 nm diameter, leading to percolation-type phenomena in the electrical transport properties. The related critical concentration $x_p$ is approximately 0.3. For $x$ $\approx$ 0.27, we observe colossal negative magnetoresistance effects at low temperatures, similar in magnitude as those reported for manganese oxides.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Large Anomalous Hall effect in a silicon-based magnetic semiconductor

Magnetic semiconductors are attracting high interest because of their potential use for spintronics, a new technology which merges electronics and manipulation of conduction electron spins. (GaMn)As and (GaMn)N have recently emerged as the most popular materials for this new technology. While Curie temperatures are rising towards room temperature, these materials can only be fabricated in thin film form, are heavily defective, and are not obviously compatible with Si. We show here that it is productive to consider transition metal monosilicides as potential alternatives. In particular, we report the discovery that the bulk metallic magnets derived from doping the narrow gap insulator FeSi with Co share the very high anomalous Hall conductance of (GaMn)As, while displaying Curie temperatures as high as 53 K. Our work opens up a new arena for spintronics, involving a bulk material based only on transition metals and Si, and which we have proven to display a variety of large magnetic field effects on easily measured electrical properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Phase Inhomogeneity of the Itinerant Ferromagnet MnSi at High Pressures

The pressure induced quantum phase transition of the weakly itinerant ferromagnet MnSi is studied using zero-field $^{29}Si$ NMR spectroscopy and relaxation. Below $P^*\approx 1.2GPa$, the intensity of the signal and the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation is independent of pressure, even though the amplitude of the magnetization drops by 20% from the ambient pressure amplitude. For $P>P^*$, the decreasing intensity within the experimentally detectable bandwidth signals the onset of an inhomogeneous phase that persists to the highest pressure measured, $P\ge 1.75GPa$, which is well beyond the known critical pressure $P_c=1.46GPa$. Implications for the non-Fermi Liquid behavior observed for $P>P_c$ are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Electronic transport in EuB$_6$

EuB$_6$ is a magnetic semiconductor in which defects introduce charge carriers into the conduction band with the Fermi energy varying with temperature and magnetic field. We present experimental and theoretical work on the electronic magnetotransport in single-crystalline EuB$_6$. Magnetization, magnetoresistance and Hall effect data were recorded at temperatures between 2 and 300 K and in magnetic fields up to 5.5 T. The negative magnetoresistance is well reproduced by a model in which the spin disorder scattering is reduced by the applied magnetic field. The Hall effect can be separated into an ordinary and an anomalous part. At 20 K the latter accounts for half of the observed Hall voltage, and its importance decreases rapidly with increasing temperature. As for Gd and its compounds, where the rare-earth ion adopts the same Hund's rule ground state as Eu$^{2+}$ in EuB$_{6}$, the standard antisymmetric scattering mechanisms underestimate the $size$ of this contribution by several orders of magnitude, while reproducing its $shape$ almost perfectly. Well below the bulk ferromagnetic ordering at $T_C$ = 12.5 K, a two-band model successfully describes the magnetotransport. Our description is consistent with published de Haas van Alphen, optical reflectivity, angular-resolved photoemission, and soft X-ray emission as well as absorption data, but requires a new interpretation for the gap feature deduced from the latter two experiments.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Magneto-optical Kerr effect in $Eu_{1-x}Ca_{x}B_{6}$

We have measured the magneto-optical Kerr rotation of ferromagnetic $Eu_{1-x}Ca_{x}B_{6}$ with x=0.2 and 0.4, as well as of $YbB_{6}$ serving as the non-magnetic reference material. As previously for $EuB_{6}$, we could identify a feature at 1 $eV$ in the Kerr response which is related with electronic transitions involving the localized 4f electron states. The absence of this feature in the data for $YbB_{6}$ confirms the relevance of the partially occupied 4f states in shaping the magneto-optical features of $Eu$-based hexaborides. Disorder by $Ca$-doping broadens the itinerant charge carrier contribution to the magneto-optical spectra.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Optical evidence for a spin-filter effect in the charge transport of $Eu_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}B_{6}$

We have measured the optical reflectivity $R(ω)$ of $Eu_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}B_{6}$ as a function of temperature between 1.5 and 300 $K$ and in external magnetic fields up to 7 $T$. The slope at the onset of the plasma edge feature in $R(ω)$ increases with decreasing temperature and increasing field but the plasma edge itself does not exhibit the remarkable blue shift that is observed in the binary compound $EuB_{6}$. The analysis of the magnetic field dependence of the low temperature optical conductivity spectrum confirms the previously observed exponential decrease of the electrical resistivity upon increasing, field-induced bulk magnetization at constant temperature. In addition, the individual exponential magnetization dependences of the plasma frequency and scattering rate are extracted from the optical data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

The Origin of Weak Ferromagnetism in CaB6

We have combined the results of magnetization and Hall effect measurements to conclude that the ferromagnetic moments of lightly doped CaB6 samples display no systematic variation with electron doping level. Removal of the surface with acid etching substantially reduces the measured moment, although the Hall constant and resistivity are unaffected, indicating that the ferromagnetism largely resides on and near the sample surface. Electron microprobe experiments reveal that Fe and Ni are found at the edges of facets and growth steps, and on other surface features introduced during growth. Our results indicate that the weak ferromagnetism previously reported in undoped CaB6 is at least partly extrinsic.

cond-mat.str-el↗

First order transition from correlated electron semiconductor to ferromagnetic metal in single crystalline FeSi1-xGex

The phase diagram of FeSi1-xGex, obtained from magnetic, thermal and transport measurements on single crystals, shows a first-order transition from a correlated electron semiconductor to a ferromagnetic metal at a critical concentration, x ~ 0.25. The gap of the insulating phase strongly decreases with x. The specific heat coefficient appears to track the density of states of a Kondo insulator. The phase diagram is consistent with a correlation induced insulator-metal transition in conjunction with disorder on the Si/Ge ligand site.

cond-mat.str-el↗

New Aspects of the Temperature-Magnetic Field Phase Diagram of CeB6

We have measured the magnetic field dependence of the paramagnetic to the field-induced high temperature antiferroquadrupolar magnetically ordered phase transition is CeB6 from 0 to 60 T using a variety of techniques. It is found that the field-dependent phase separation line becomes re-entrant above 35 T and below 10 K. Measurements of resonant ultra-sound, specific heat and neutron diffraction show conclusively that the zero-field temperature-dependent phase transition is to a state with no ordered dipole moments, but with second order transition signatures in both sound attenuation and specific heat.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Magnetism and superconductivity in Ce_2RhIn_8

We report the discovery of pressure-induced superconductivity, with T_c=2 K, in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet Ce_2RhIn_8, where superconductivity and magnetic order coexist over an extended pressure interval. A T-linear resistivity in the normal state, accessed by an applied magnetic field, does not appear to derive from the existence of a 2D quantum-critical spin-density wave.

cond-mat.str-el↗