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At least 559 records · Page 31

Thermodynamics and magnetism in the two-dimensional to three-dimensional crossover of the Hubbard model

The realization of antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations in ultracold fermionic atoms on an optical lattice is a significant achievement. Experiments have been carried out in one, two, and three dimensions, and have also studied anisotropic configurations with stronger tunneling in some lattice directions. Such anisotropy is relevant to the physics of cuprate superconductors and other strongly correlated materials. Moreover, this anisotropy might be harnessed to enhance AF order. Here we numerically investigate, using the determinant quantum Monte Carlo method, a simple realization of anisotropy in the three-dimensional (3D) Hubbard model in which the tunneling between planes, $t_⊥$, is unequal to the intraplane tunneling $\textit{t}$. This model interpolates between the three-dimensional isotropic ($t_⊥ = t$) and two-dimensional (2D;$t_⊥$ = 0) systems. In this work, we show that at fixed interaction strength to tunneling ratio ($\textit{U/t}$), anisotropy can enhance the magnetic structure factor relative to both 2D and 3D results. However, this enhancement occurs at interaction strengths below those for which the Néel temperature $T_{\text{Néel}}$ is largest, in such a way that the structure factor cannot be made to exceed its value in isotropic 3D systems at the optimal $\textit{U/t}$. We characterize the 2D-3D crossover in terms of the magnetic structure factor, real space spin correlations, number of doubly occupied sites, and thermodynamic observables. An interesting implication of our results stems from the entropy's dependence on anisotropy. As the system evolves from 3D to 2D, the entropy at a fixed temperature increases. Correspondingly, at fixed entropy, the temperature will decrease going from 3D to 2D. This suggests a cooling protocol in which the dimensionality is adiabatically changed from 3D to 2D.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Magnetoelastic interactions in SrCu 2 (BO 3 ) 2 studied by Raman scattering experiments and first principles calculations

Dynamic and static crystal lattice properties of SrCu 2 (BO 3 ) 2 are studied by means of Raman scattering, magnetostriction, and thermal expansion measurements in magnetic fields to 45 T. Raman experiments versus temperature reveal that some phonon modes show an unusual behavior: their frequencies soften (modes at 200 and 450 cm –1 ) while others harden (modes at 385 and 478 cm –1 ) when decreasing the temperature below 15 K. Magneto-Raman experiments show that their field dependence correlates with their respective temperature dependencies; e.g., modes that are hardened with increasing temperature also harden with applied magnetic fields and modes that become softer with temperature also soften with applied fields. We use density functional theory to successfully model and compute the energies of these modes, classifying them into two types: pantograph (modes that soften when decreasing the temperature) and nonpantograph. We conclude that the former involves the modification of the intradimer exchange interaction J and the latter the interdimer J'. Lastly, dilatometry is used to correlate field-dependent Raman modes to the closing of the spin gap as well as fractional-magnetization stripe states M = 1/4 M s and M = 1/3 M s , where M s is the saturation magnetization.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Three-dimensional checkerboard spin structure on a breathing pyrochlore lattice

The standard approach to realize a spin-liquid state is through magnetically frustrated states, relying on ingredients such as the lattice geometry, dimensionality, and magnetic interaction type of the spins. While Heisenberg spins on a pyrochlore lattice with only antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions are theoretically proven disordered, spins in real systems generally include longer-range interactions. The spatial correlations at longer distances typically stabilize a long-range order rather than enhancing a spin-liquid state. Both states can, however, be destroyed by short-range static correlations introduced by chemical disorder. Here, using disorder-free specimens with a clear long-range antiferromagnetic order, we refine the spin structure of the Heisenberg spinel ZnFe 2 O 4 through neutron magnetic diffraction. The unique wave vector (1, 0, $\frac{1}{2}$) leads to a spin structure that can be viewed as alternatively stacked ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic tetrahedra in a three-dimensional checkerboard form. Stable coexistence of these opposing types of clusters is enabled by the bipartite breathing pyrochlore crystal structure, leading to a second-order phase transition at 10 K. The diffraction intensity of ZnFe 2 O 4 is an exact complement to the inelastic scattering intensity of several chromate spinel systems which are regarded as model classical spin liquids. Our results challenge this attribution, and suggest instead of the six-spin ring mode, spin excitations in chromate spinels are closely related to the (1, 0, $\frac{1}{2}$) type of spin order and the four-spin ferromagnetic cluster locally at one tetrahedron.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pion gravitational form factors in the QCD instanton vacuum. I

The pion form factors of the QCD energy-momentum tensor (EMT) are studied in the instanton liquid model (ILM) of the QCD vacuum. In this approach, the breaking of conformal symmetry is encoded in the form of stronger-than-Poisson fluctuations in the number of instantons. For the trace of the EMT, it is shown that the gluonic trace anomaly term contributes half the pion mass, with the other half coming from the quark-mass-dependent σ term. The Q 2 dependence of the form factors is governed by glueball and scalar meson exchanges. For the EMT, the spin-0 (trace) and spin-2 (traceless rank-2 tensor) form factors are computed at next-to-leading order in the instanton density using effective quark operators. Relations between the gluon and quark contributions to the EMT form factors are derived. The form factors are also expressed in terms of the pion light-front wave functions in the ILM. The results at the low resolution scale of the inverse instanton size are evolved to higher scales using the renormalization group equation. The ILM results compare well with those of recent lattice QCD calculations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ferromagnetic resonance in single vertices and 2D lattices macro-dipoles of elongated nanoelements: measurements and simulations

We report broadband ferromagnetic resonance measurements of the in-plane magnetic field response of three- and four-fold symmetric vertices formed by non-contacting permalloy nano-ellipses together with extended lattices constructed from them. Complementing the experimental data with simulations, we are able to show that, as far as the most intense FMR responses are concerned, the spectra of vertices and lattices can largely be interpreted in terms of a superposition of the underlying hysteretic responses of the individual ellipses, as elemental building blocks of the system. Here, this property suggest that it is possible to understand the orientation of the individual magnetic dipole moments in a dipole network in terms of dynamic measurements alone, thereby offering a powerful tool to analyze the alignment statistics in frustrated systems that are exposed to various magnetic histories.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetism in Mixed Valence, Defect, Cubic Perovskites: BaIn 1– x Fe x O 2.5+δ , x = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75. Local and Average Structures

The series BaIn 1–x Fe x O 2.5+δ , x = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, has been prepared under air-fired and argon-fired conditions and studied using X-ray diffraction, d.c. and a.c. susceptibility, Mössbauer spectroscopy, neutron diffraction, X-ray near edge absorption spectroscopy (XANES), and X-ray pair distribution (PDF) methods. While Ba 2 In 2 O 5 (BaInO 2.5 ) crystallizes in an ordered brownmillerite structure, Ibm2, and Ba 2 Fe 2 O 5 (BaFeO 2.5 ) crystallizes in a complex monoclinic structure, P2 1 /c, showing seven Fe 3+ sites with tetrahedral, square planar, and octahedral environments, all phases studied here crystallize in the cubic perovskite structure, Pm$\bar{}3}$m, with long-range disorder on the small cation and oxygen sites. 57 Fe Mössbauer studies indicate a mixed valency, Fe 4+ /Fe 3+ , for both the air-fired and argon-fired samples. The increased Fe 3+ content for the argon-fired samples is reflected in increased cubic cell constants and in the increased Mössbauer fraction. It appears that the Pm$\bar{}3}$m phases are only metastable when fired in argon. From a slightly modified percolation theory for a primitive cubic lattice (taking into account the presence of random O atom vacancies), long-range spin order is permitted for the x = 0.50 and 0.75 phases. Instead, the d.c. susceptibility shows only zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) divergences at ~6 K [5 K] for x = 0.50 and at ~22 K [21 K] for x = 0.75, with values for the argon-fired samples in [ ]. Neutron diffraction data for the air-fired samples confirm the absence of long-range magnetic order at any studied temperature. For the air-fired x = 0.50, a.c. susceptibility data show a frequency-dependent χ'(max) and spin glass behavior, while for x = 0.75, χ'(max) is invariant with frequency, ruling out either a spin glass or a superparamagnetic ground state. These behaviors are discussed in terms of competing Fe 3+ –Fe 3+ antiferromagnetic exchange and ferromagnetic Fe 3+ –Fe 4+ exchange. The PDF and 57 Fe Mössbauer data indicate a local structure at short interatomic distances, which deviates strongly from the average Pm$\bar{}3}$m model. Fe Mössbauer, PDF, and XANES data show a systematic dependence on x and indicate that the Fe 3+ sites are largely fourfold-coordinated and Fe 4+ sites are fivefold- or sixfold-coordinated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Interplay between magnetism and band topology in the kagome magnets R Mn 6 Sn 6

Kagome-lattice magnets R Mn 6 Sn 6 recently emerged as a new platform to exploit the interplay between magnetism and topological electronic states. Some of the most exciting features of this family are the dramatic dependence of the easy magnetization direction on the rare-earth specie, despite other magnetic and electronic properties being essentially unchanged, and the kagome geometry of the Mn planes that in principle can generate flat bands and Dirac points; gapping of the Dirac points by spin-orbit coupling has been suggested recently to be responsible for the observed anomalous Hall response in the member TbMn 6 Sn 6 . In this paper, we address both issues with ab initio calculations. We have discovered the significant role played by higher-order crystal-field parameters and rare-earth magnetic anisotropy constants in these systems. Further, we demonstrate that the microscopic origin of rare-earth magnetic anisotropy can also be quantified and understood at various levels: ab initio, phenomenological, and analytical. In particular, using a simple and physically transparent analytical model based on perturbation theory, we are able to explain, with full quantitative agreement, the evolution of rare-earth magnetic anisotropy across the series. We analyze in detail the topological properties of Mn-dominated bands and demonstrate how they emerge from the multiorbital planar kagome model. We further show that, despite this fact, most of the topological features at the Brillouin zone corner K are strongly 3D and therefore cannot explain the observed quasi-2D anomalous Hall effect, while the most pronounced quasi-2D dispersion are too far removed from the Fermi level. By employing self-consistent calculations with ab initio many-body approaches, we demonstrate that the exchange-correlation effects beyond the density functional theory for itinerant Mn- d electrons do not significantly alter the obtained electronic and magnetic structure. Therefore, we conclude that, contrary to previous claims, the most pronounced 2D kagome-derived topological band features bear little relevance to transport in RMn 6 Sn 6 , albeit they may possibly be brought to focus by electron or hole doping.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Chiral-odd generalized parton distributions in the large-𝑁 𝑐 limit of QCD: Spin-flavor structure, polynomiality, and sum rules

We study the nonperturbative properties of the nucleon’s chiral-odd generalized parton distributions (transversity GPDs) in the large-𝑁 𝑐 limit of QCD. This includes the parametric ordering of the spin-flavor components, the polynomiality property of the moments, and the sum rules connecting the GPDs with the tensor form factors. A multipole expansion in the transverse momentum transfer is used to enumerate and interpret the structures in the nucleon matrix element of the chiral-odd partonic operator, including monopole, dipole and quadrupole terms. The 1/𝑁 𝑐 expansion of the GPDs is performed using the abstract mean-field picture of baryons in the large-𝑁 𝑐 limit and its symmetries. We derive a large-𝑁 𝑐 relation between the flavor-nonsinglet GPDs 𝐸$^{𝑢−𝑑}_𝑇$ and $\tilde{𝐻}^{𝑢−𝑑}_𝑇$ and test it with recent lattice QCD results. We show that the polynomiality property and sum rules of the GPDs are fulfilled with the restricted realization of translational and rotational invariance in the mean-field picture. The results provide a basis for the phenomenological analysis of chiral-odd GPDs and hard exclusive processes in the large-𝑁 𝑐 limit, and for calculations in specific dynamical models.

generalized parton distributions↗

DOUBLY-STRANGE BARYON SPECTROSCOPY WITH THE GLUEX EXPERIMENT: GROUND STATE ¿(1320) PHOTOPRODUCTION CROSS SECTION AND PROPERTIES

In the light-quark sector, traditional quark models and, more recently, lattice QCD calculations have predicted many more baryon states than have been experimentally observed. The hyperons, baryons with strange-quark content, in particular abundantly lack these observed states, and past observations are statistically limited. For multi-strange hyperons the matter is much worse and the production mechanisms of these states in photoproduction are very poorly understood. By capitalizing on the narrow peaks, as compared to the broad and overlapping N* and ¿* states, characteristic of the lowest lying ¿ resonances, the systematic aspects of the spectrum can be analyzed. In addition, we can measure experimental observables such as the production cross section to study the production mechanisms of the ¿ resonances. By accumulating various experimental observables, this goal could be accomplished through Partial Wave Analysis (PWA). The main body of work presented in this dissertation is the physics analysis and systematic study of the production cross section for the doubly strange octet ground state baryon (¿(1320)) in the exclusive t-channel photoproduction reaction ¿p ¿ K+Y* ¿ K+(K+¿-)Y* where ¿- ¿ ¿p- and ¿ ¿ pp-. The spin quantum number of ¿(1320) is also extracted and discussed. A preliminary result to extract the mass of ¿(1320) is also explored as a result of the statistical limitations of current measurements. Furthermore, the spectrum of the excited ¿* baryons are explored and discussed in the ¿*- ¿ K-¿ decay channel. The studies on the ground state and excited ¿ baryon are performed using the GlueX Phase-I (GlueX-I) data set. We have extracted differential cross sections from seven beam photon energy bins for E¿ ¿ [6.4,11.4] GeV1 and for -t < 2.4 GeV2 in the production of K+Y*. 1Natural units (c = 1) are used for the entire body of work.

Hernandez, Jesse [Florida State Univ., Tallahassee↗

Improving Schrödinger Equation Implementations with Gray Code for Adiabatic Quantum Computers

We reformulate the continuous-space Schrödinger equation in terms of spin Hamiltonians. For the kinetic energy operator, the critical concept facilitating the reduction in model complexity is the idea of position encoding. A binary encoding of position produces a spin-1/2 Heisenberg-like model and yields exponential improvement in space complexity when compared to classical computing. Encoding with a binary reflected Gray code (BRGC), and a Hamming-distance-2 Gray code (H2GC) reduces the model complexity down to the 𝑋⁢𝑍 and transverse Ising model, respectively. For 𝐴 qubits BRGC yields 2 𝐴 positions and is reduced to its 2-local form with O⁡(𝐴) ancillary qubits. H2GC yields 2 𝐴/2+1 positions with O⁡(𝐴 2 ) three-local penalty terms. We also identify the bijective mapping between diagonal unitaries and the Walsh series, producing the mapping of any real potential to a series of 𝑘 -local Ising models through the fast Walsh transform. Finally, in a finite volume, we provide some numerical evidence to support the claim that the total time needed for adiabatic evolution is protected by the infrared cutoff of the system. As a result, initial state preparation from a free-field wave function to an interacting system is expected to exhibit polynomial time complexity with volume and constant scaling with respect to lattice discretization for all encodings. For H2GC, if the evolution starts with the transverse Hamiltonian due to hardware restrictions, then penalties are dynamically introduced such that the low-lying spectrum reproduces the energy levels of the Laplacian. The adiabatic evolution of the penalty Hamiltonian is therefore sensitive to the ultraviolet scale. It is expected to exhibit polynomial time complexity with lattice discretization, or exponential time complexity with respect to the number of qubits given a fixed volume.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Mixing effects on spectroscopy and partonic observables of heavy mesons with logarithmic confining potential in a light-front quark model

Using the variational principle, we systematically investigate the mass spectra and wave functions of both 1⁢𝑆 and 2⁢𝑆 state heavy pseudoscalar (𝑃) and vector (𝑉) mesons within the light-front quark model. This approach incorporates a Coulomb plus logarithmic confinement potential to accurately describe the constituent quark and antiquark dynamics. Additionally, spin hyperfine interactions are introduced perturbatively to compute the masses of pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The present analyses of the 1⁢𝑆 and 2⁢𝑆 states require the consideration of mixing between them to account for empirical constraints. These constraints include the mass gap Δ⁢𝑀 𝑃 >Δ⁢𝑀 𝑉 , where Δ⁢𝑀 𝑃⁡(𝑉) =𝑀$^{2⁢𝑆}_{𝑃⁡(𝑉)}$−𝑀$^{1⁢𝑆}_{𝑃⁡(𝑉)}$ and the hierarchy of the decay constants 𝑓 1⁢𝑆 >𝑓 2⁢𝑆 . We find the optimal value of the mixing angle to be 𝜃 =1⁢8°, significantly enhancing the consistency between our spectroscopic predictions and the experimental data compiled by the Particle Data Group. Furthermore, based on the predicted mass, the newly observed resonance 𝐵 𝐽⁡ (5840) could be assigned as a 2 1⁢ 𝑆 0 state in the 𝐵 meson family. The study also reports various pertinent observables, including twist-two distribution amplitudes, electromagnetic form factors, charge radii, 𝜉 moments, and transition form factors that are found to be consistent with both available lattice simulations and experimental data. In addition, our predicted branching ratios for the channels of 𝐵 + →𝜏 + ⁢𝜈 𝜏 as well as rare decays of 𝐵 0 and 𝐵$^0_𝑠$ appear in accordance with experimental data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Prediction of s ± -Wave Superconductivity Enhanced by Electronic Doping in Trilayer Nickelates La 4 Ni 3 O 10 under Pressure

Motivated by the recently reported signatures of superconductivity in trilayer La 4 ⁢Ni 3 ⁢O 10 under pressure, here we comprehensively study this system using ab initio and random-phase approximation techniques. Without electronic interactions, the Ni d 3z 2 –r 2 orbitals show a bonding-antibonding and nonbonding splitting behavior via the O p z orbitals inducing a “trimer” lattice in La 4⁢ Ni 3 ⁢O 10 , analogous to the dimers of La 3 ⁢Ni 2 ⁢O 7 . The Fermi surface consists of three electron sheets with mixed e g orbitals, and a hole and an electron pocket made up of the d 3⁢z 2 –r 2 orbital, suggesting a Ni two-orbital minimum model. In addition, we find that superconducting pairing is induced in the s ± -wave channel due to partial nesting between the M = (π,π) centered pockets and portions of the Fermi surface centered at the Γ = (0,0) point. With changing electronic density n, the s ± instability remains leading and its pairing strength shows a domelike behavior with a maximum around n = 4.2 ( ~6.7% electron doping). The superconducting instability disappears at the same electronic density as that in the new 1313 stacking La 3 ⁢Ni 2 ⁢O 7 , correlated with the vanishing of the hole pocket that arises from the trilayer sublattice, suggesting that the high-T c superconductivity of La 3⁢ Ni 2 ⁢O 7 does not originate from a trilayer and monolayer structure. Furthermore, we confirm the experimentally proposed spin state in La 4 ⁢Ni 3 ⁢O 10 with an in-plane (π, π) order and antiferromagnetic coupling between the top and bottom Ni layers, and spin zero in the middle layer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Collinear antiferromagnetic order in a quasi-two-dimensional triangular lattice compound DyNiAl 4 Ge 2

The two-dimensional magnetic triangular lattice, with rare-earth local moments coupled through long-range interactions and hosting strong spin-orbit coupling, serves as an ideal platform for exploring novel quantum phenomena. Here, we report the physical properties of DyNiAl 4 Ge 2 single crystals through comprehensive structural, magnetic, heat capacity, electrical transport, and neutron powder diffraction measurements. DyNiAl 4 Ge 2 crystallizes in a trigonal lattice with the space group $R\bar{3}m$, where Dy atoms form two-dimensional triangular lattice layers within the 𝑎𝑏 plane and stack along the 𝑐 axis. Magnetic susceptibility measurement reveals a magnetic phase transition at 𝑇 𝑁 = 9.0 K, further confirmed by the 𝜆-shaped peak in the heat capacity curve. The obtained temperature-magnetic field phase diagram is relatively simple compared to other isostructural compounds, suggesting the absence of magnetic frustration. This is further evidenced by neutron powder diffraction, which shows a collinear antiferromagnetic ground state with a propagation vector 𝒌 = (0, 0, 1.5), implying the absence of magnetic frustration in DyNiAl 4 Ge 2 . In this magnetic structure, Dy moments are aligned ferromagnetically within each triangular layer and arranged antiferromagnetically between adjacent layers along the 𝑐 axis. In conclusion, our results establish DyNiAl 4 Ge 2 as a model system for understanding the interplay between RKKY interaction and geometrical frustration in this family of compounds.

Wu, HengHeng [Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), S↗

Simulating spin dynamics of supersolid states in a quantum Ising magnet

Motivated by a recent experimental study on the quantum Ising magnet K 2 Co(SeO 3 ) 2 that presented spectroscopic evidence of zero-field supersolidity (Chen et al., arXiv:2402.15869), we simulate the excitation spectrum of the corresponding microscopic XXZ model for the compound, using the recently developed excitation ansatz for infinite projected entangled-pair states. Here, we map out the ground state phase diagram and compute the dynamical spin structure factors across a range of magnetic field strengths, focusing especially on the two supersolid phases found near zero and saturation fields. Our simulated excitation spectra for the zero-field supersolid “Y” phase are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Kitaev physics in the two-dimensional magnet NiPSe 3

The Kitaev interaction, found in candidate materials such as α − RuCl 3 , occurs through the metal ( M )-ligand ( X )-metal ( M ) paths of the edge-sharing octahedra because the large spin-orbit coupling (SOC) on the metal atoms activates directional spin interactions. Here, we show that even in 3 d transition-metal compounds, where the SOC of the metal atom is negligible, heavy ligands can induce bond-dependent Kitaev interactions. In this work, we take as an example the 3 d transition-metal chalcogenophosphate NiPSe 3 and show that the key is found in the presence of a sizable SOC on the Se p orbital, one which mediates the super-exchange between the nearest-neighbor Ni sites. Our study provides a pathway for engineering enhanced Kitaev interactions through the interplay of SOC strength, lattice distortions, and chemical substitutions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Stripe magnetic order and field-induced quantum criticality in the perfect triangular-lattice antiferromagnet CsCeSe 2

The two-dimensional triangular-lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) is a textbook example of frustrated magnetic systems. Despite its simplicity, the TLAF model exhibits a highly rich and complex magnetic phase diagram, featuring numerous distinct ground states that can be stabilized through frustrated next-nearest-neighbor couplings or anisotropy. In this paper, we report low-temperature magnetic properties of the TLAF material CsCeSe 2 . The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) together with specific heat measurements and density functional theory calculations of crystalline electric field suggest that the ground state of Ce ions is a Kramers doublet with strong easy-plane anisotropy. Elastic neutron scattering measurements demonstrate the presence of stripe-yz magnetic order that develops below T N = 0.35K, with the zero-field ordered moment of m Ce ≈ 0.65μ B . Application of magnetic field first increases the ordering temperature by about 20% at the intermediate field region and eventually suppresses the stripe order in favor of the field-polarized ferromagnetic state via a continuous quantum phase transition (QPT). The field-induced response demonstrates sizable anisotropy for different in-plane directions, B ∥ a and B ⊥ ⁢a, which indicates the presence of bond-dependent coupling in the spin Hamiltonian. As a result, we further show theoretically that the presence of anisotropic bond-dependent interactions can change the universality class of QPT for B ∥ a and B ⊥ ⁢a.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Noncollinear antiferromagnetic order in the buckled honeycomb lattice of magnetoelectric Co 4 Ta 2 O 9 determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction

Co 4 Ta 2 O 9 exhibits a three-dimensional magnetic lattice based on the buckled honeycomb motif. It shows unusual magnetoelectric effects, including the sign change and nonlinearity. These effects cannot be understood without the detailed knowledge of the magnetic structure. Herein, we report neutron diffraction and direction-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on Co 4 Ta 2 O 9 single crystals. In this work, below 20.3 K, we find a long-range antiferromagnetic order in the alternating buckled and flat honeycomb layers of Co 2+ ions stacked along the c axis. Within experimental accuracy, the magnetic moments lie in the ab plane. They form a canted antiferromagnetic structure with a tilt angle of ~14° at 15 K in the buckled layers, while the magnetic moments in each flat layer are collinear. This is directly evidenced by a finite (0, 0, 3) magnetic Bragg peak intensity, which would be absent in the collinear magnetic order. The magnetic space group is C2/c'. It is different from the previously reported C2/c' group, also found in the isostructural Co 4 Nb 2 O 9 . The revised magnetic structure successfully explains the major features of the magnetoelectric tensor of Co 4 Ta 2 O 9 within the framework of the spin-flop model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗