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At least 595 records · Page 33

Electronic structure and optical properties of halide double perovskites from a Wannier-localized optimally-tuned screened range-separated hybrid functional

Halide double perovskites are a chemically diverse and growing class of compound semiconductors that are promising for optoelectronic applications. However, the prediction of their fundamental gaps and optical properties with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio many-body perturbation theory has been a significant challenge. Recently, a nonempirical Wannier-localized optimally tuned screened range-separated hybrid (WOT-SRSH) functional has been shown to accurately produce the fundamental band gaps of a wide set of semiconductors and insulators, including lead halide perovskites. Here, in this study, we apply the WOT-SRSH functional to five halide double perovskites and compare the results with those obtained from other known functionals and previous GW calculations. We also use the approach as a starting point for GW calculations and we compute the band structures and optical absorption spectrum for Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 , using both time-dependent DFT and the GW-Bethe-Salpeter equation approach. We show that the WOT-SRSH functional leads to accurate fundamental and optical band gaps, as well as optical absorption spectra, consistent with spectroscopic measurements, thereby establishing WOT-SRSH as a viable method for the accurate prediction of optoelectronic properties of halide double perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantum Imaging of Magnetic Phase Transitions and Spin Fluctuations in Intrinsic Magnetic Topological Nanoflakes

Topological materials featuring exotic band structures, unconventional current flow patterns, and emergent organizing principles offer attractive platforms for the development of next-generation transformative quantum electronic technologies. The family of MnBi 2 T e4 (Bi 2 Te 3 )n materials is naturally relevant in this context due to their nontrivial band topology, tunable magnetism, and recently discovered extraordinary quantum transport behaviors. Despite numerous pioneering studies, to date, the local magnetic properties of MnBi 2 Te 4 (Bi 2 Te 3 )n remain an open question, hindering a comprehensive understanding of their fundamental material properties. Exploiting nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, we report nanoscale quantum imaging of magnetic phase transitions and spin fluctuations in exfoliated MnBi 2 Te 4 (Bi 2 Te 3 )n flakes, revealing the underlying spin transport physics and magnetic domains at the nanoscale. Furthermore, our results highlight the unique advantage of NV centers in exploring the magnetic properties of emergent quantum materials, opening new opportunities for investigating the interplay between topology and magnetism.

Antiferromagnetic materials↗

Unraveling the Nature of Lasing Emission from Hybrid Silicon Nitride and Colloidal Nanocrystal Photonic Crystals with Low Refractive Index Contrast

Silicon nitride is used for its low optical loss and high thermal stability, making it a suitable platform for visible-light applications in integrated photonic devices. However, its application has been limited due to inefficient light emission, a problem addressed by integrating various types of light emitters onto the platform. In particular, the integration of solution-processable colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) as optical gain materials onto the silicon nitride platform is a promising route but requires a more solid theoretical footing. By leveraging 2D surface-emitting photonic crystal structures combined with NCs, we effectively confine and manipulate light to achieve lasing from green to red. Building on this, we model the light–matter interactions of the low index contrast NC/nitride platform, validated by extensive experimental validations through Fourier imaging techniques, revealing the full photonic band structure and showing clear mode congestion. Finally, these comprehensive studies confirm the potential of hybrid NC-based structures for fully integrated on-chip laser applications and indicate routes for further improvement.

BIC Lasing↗

Tunable exciton-polaritons emerging from WS 2 monolayer excitons in a photonic lattice at room temperature

Engineering non-linear hybrid light-matter states in tailored lattices is a central research strategy for the simulation of complex Hamiltonians. Excitons in atomically thin crystals are an ideal active medium for such purposes, since they couple strongly with light and bear the potential to harness giant non-linearities and interactions while presenting a simple sample-processing and room temperature operability. We demonstrate lattice polaritons, based on an open, high-quality optical cavity, with an imprinted photonic lattice strongly coupled to excitons in a WS 2 monolayer. We experimentally observe the emergence of the canonical band-structure of particles in a one-dimensional lattice at room temperature, and demonstrate frequency reconfigurability over a spectral window exceeding 85 meV, as well as the systematic variation of the nearest-neighbour coupling, reflected by a tunability in the bandwidth of the p-band polaritons by 7 meV. The technology presented in this work is a critical demonstration towards reconfigurable photonic emulators operated with non-linear photonic fluids, offering a simple experimental implementation and working at ambient conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Prevalence of pretransition disordering in the rutile-to- CaCl 2 phase transition of GeO 2

WE report the ability to tailor a material's electronic properties using density driven disordering has emerged as a powerful route to materials design. The observation of anomalous structural and electronic behavior in the rutile to CaCl 2 phase transition in SnO 2 led to the prediction that such behavior is inherent to all oxides experiencing such a phase transition sequence [Smith et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 10, 5351 (2019)]. Here, the ultrawide band gap semiconductor GeO 2 is confirmed to exhibit anomalous behavior during the rutile to CaCl 2 phase transition. A phase pure rutile GeO 2 sample synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions is probed using synchrotron diffraction and x-ray and optical spectroscopy under high pressure conditions. Density functional theory calculations show that the enthalpic barrier to displacing an oxygen along the B 1g librational mode decreases with pressure leading up to the rutile to CaCl 2 phase transition. The band structure of the distorted state shows that such oxygen displacements form small polarons.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Detecting Fractional Chern Insulators in Optical Lattices Through Quantized Displacement

The realization of interacting topological states of matter such as fractional Chern insulators (FCIs) in cold atom systems has recently come within experimental reach due to the engineering of optical lattices with synthetic gauge fields providing the required topological band structures. However, detecting their occurrence might prove difficult since transport measurements akin to those in solid state systems are challenging to perform in cold atom setups and alternatives have to be found. Here, we show that for a ν = 1/2 FCI state realized in the lowest band of a Harper-Hofstadter model of interacting bosons confined by a harmonic trapping potential, the fractionally quantized Hall conductivity σ xy can be accurately determined by the displacement of the atomic cloud under the action of a constant force which provides a suitable experimentally measurable signal for detecting the topological nature of the state. Using matrix-product state algorithms, we show that, in both cylinder and square geometries, the movement of the particle cloud in time under the application of a constant force field on top of the confining potential is proportional to σ xy for an extended range of field strengths.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Strain-induced majority carrier inversion in ferromagnetic epitaxial LaCo O 3 - δ thin films

Tensile-strained LaCoO 3-δ thin films are ferromagnetic, in sharp contrast to the zero-spin bulk, although no clear consensus has emerged as to the origin of this phenomenon. While magnetism has been heavily studied, relatively little attention has been paid to electronic transport, due to the insulating nature of the strain-stabilized ferromagnetic state. Here, structure, magnetism, and transport are studied in epitaxial LaCoO 3-δ films (10–22-nm thick) on various substrates (from 1.4% compressive to 2.5% tensile strain), using synchrotron x-ray diffraction, scanning probe and transmission electron microscopy, magnetometry, polarized neutron reflectometry, resistivity, and Hall effect. High quality, smooth films are obtained, exhibiting superstructures associated with both oxygen vacancy ordering and periodic in-plane ferroelastic domains. Consistent with prior work, ferromagnetism with an approximately 80–85 K Curie temperature is observed under tension; polarized neutron reflectometry confirms a relatively uniform magnetization depth profile, albeit with interfacial dead layer formation. Electrical transport is found to have similar semiconducting nature to bulk, but with reduced resistivity and activation energy. Hall effect measurements, however, reveal a striking inversion of the majority carrier type, from p-type in the bulk and under compression to n-type under tension. While thus far overlooked, ferromagnetism in epitaxial LaCoO 3-δ films is thus directly correlated with n-type behavior, providing important insight into the ferromagnetic state in this system. Here, aided by density functional theory calculations, these results are interpreted in terms of tensile-strain-induced orbital occupation and band structure changes, including a rapid decrease in effective mass at the e g -derived conduction band minimum, and corresponding increase at the valence band maximum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electronic, structural and magnetic properties of Mn (1+x) Pt (1-x) Sb

Electronic and magnetic properties of half-metallic Heusler alloys can be modified by tuning their chemical compositions. We have carried out a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of Mn (1+x) Pt (1-x) Sb (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) alloys. Our first-principles calculations indicate that the stoichiometric MnPtSb exhibits nearly half-metallic band structure, but a robust half-metallicity can be achieved in Mn-rich compositions Mn (1+x) Pt (1-x) Sb (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) with x = 0.25 and higher in their cubic structures. In addition, while MnPtSb exhibits ferromagnetic alignment, Mn (1+x) Pt (1-x) Sb are ferrimagnetic for all non-zero values of x. We have also synthesized cubic MnPtSb and Mn 1.25 Pt 0.75 Sb alloys using arc melting and annealing. The magnetic properties of these alloys are consistent with our theoretical predictions. Furthermore, these results indicate that the Mn-rich Mn (1+x) Pt (1-x) Sb alloys have potential for spin-transport-based devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unconventional Anomalous Hall Effect Driven by Self‐Intercalation in Covalent 2D Magnet Cr 2 Te 3

Covalent 2D magnets such as Cr 2 Te 3 , which feature self-intercalated magnetic cations located between monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenide material, offer a unique platform for controlling magnetic order and spin texture, enabling new potential applications for spintronic devices. Here, it is demonstrated that the unconventional anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in Cr 2 Te 3 , characterized by additional humps and dips near the coercive field in AHE hysteresis, originates from an intrinsic mechanism dictated by the self-intercalation. This mechanism is distinctly different from previously proposed mechanisms such as topological Hall effect, or two-channel AHE arising from spatial inhomogeneities. Crucially, multiple Weyl-like nodes emerge in the electronic band structure due to strong spin-orbit coupling, whose positions relative to the Fermi level is sensitively modulated by the canting angles of the self-intercalated Cr cations. These nodes contribute strongly to the Berry curvature and AHE conductivity. This component competes with the contribution from bands that are less affected by the self-intercalation, resulting in a sign change in AHE with temperature and the emergence of additional humps and dips. The findings provide compelling evidence for the intrinsic origin of the unconventional AHE in Cr 2 Te 3 and further establish self-intercalation as a control knob for engineering AHE in complex magnets.

2D magnets↗

Syntheses and crystal structures of four new d 0 transition metal tellurites

Four new d 0 transition metal tellurites, namely InVTeO 6 (1), β-InVTe 2 O 8 (2), FeVTe 2 O 8 (3), and Fe 2 MoTe 2 O 10 (4), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, and their crystal structures were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 (No. 19), with unit cell parameters of a = 5.0759(2) Å, b = 8.5030(3) Å, c = 11.6376(5) Å, V = 502.28(3) Å 3 , and Z = 4, while the other three compounds crystallize in centrosymmetric structures, with space group Cmca and unit cell parameters of a = 7.0633(7) Å, b = 8.962(1) Å, c = 20.162(2) Å, V = 1276.3(2) Å 3 , and Z = 8 for compound 2, space group P2 1 /n and unit cell parameters of a = 7.8901(2) Å, b = 4.9617(1) Å, c = 16.4290(3) Å, β = 93.6198(8)°, V = 641.88(2) Å 3 , and Z = 4 for compound 3, and space group Pnma and unit cell parameters of a = 8.7878(2) Å, b = 6.1327(2) Å, c = 15.2423(4) Å, V = 821.45(4) Å 3 , and Z = 4 for compound 4. Compound 3 adopts a two-dimensional (2D) sheet structure composed of FeO 6 octahedra, VO 4 tetrahedra, and TeO 4 polyhedra. The other three compounds exhibit three-dimensional (3D) framework structures: Compound 1 is built from InO 6 octahedra, VO 4 tetrahedra, TeO 4 polyhedra; Compound 2 consists of InO 6 octahedra, VO 5 square pyramids, and TeO 3 polyhedra; and Compound 4 is composed of FeO 6 octahedra, MoO 6 octahedra, and TeO 3 polyhedra. The band structures, density of states, and electron localization functions of all four compounds were calculated. The vibrational spectra were examined for compounds 1, 2, and 4. Furthermore, powder X-ray diffraction, element analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted for compound 4.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Symmetry, microscopy and spectroscopy signatures of altermagnetism

The recent discovery of altermagnetism was in part motivated by the research of compensated magnets towards highly scalable spintronic technologies. Simultaneously, altermagnetism shares the anisotropic higher-partial-wave nature of ordering with unconventional superfluid phases, which have been at the forefront of research for the past several decades. These examples illustrate the interest in altermagnetism from a broad range of science and technology perspectives. Here we review the symmetry, microscopy and spectroscopy signatures of altermagnetism. We describe the spontaneously broken and retained symmetries that delineate altermagnetism as a distinct phase of matter with d-, g- or i-wave compensated collinear spin ordering. In materials ranging from weakly interacting metals to strongly correlated insulators, the microscopic crystal-structure realizations of the altermagnetic symmetries feature a characteristic ferroic order of anisotropic higher-partial-wave components of atomic-scale spin densities. These symmetry and microscopy signatures of altermagnetism are directly reflected in spin-dependent electronic spectra and responses. Here, we review salient band-structure features originating from the altermagnetic ordering, and from its interplay with spin–orbit coupling and topological phenomena. Throughout, we compare altermagnetism with traditional ferromagnetism and Néel antiferromagnetism, and with magnetic phases with symmetry-protected compensated non-collinear spin orders. We accompany the theoretical discussions with references to relevant experiments.

Jungwirth, Tomas [Czech Academy of Sciences, Pragu↗

Observation of paramagnetic spin-degeneracy lifting in EuZn 2 Sb 2

Taken together, time-reversal and spatial inversion symmetries impose a twofold spin degeneracy of the electronic states in crystals. In centrosymmetric materials, this degeneracy can be lifted by introducing magnetism, either via an externally applied field or through internal magnetization. However, a correlated alignment of spins, even in the paramagnetic phase, can lift the spin degeneracy of electronic states. Here, we report an in-depth study of the electronic band structure of the Eu-ternary pnictide EuZn 2 Sb 2 through a combination of high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and first-principles calculations. An analysis of the photoemission line shapes over a range of incident photon energies and sample temperatures is shown to reveal the presence of band spin-degeneracy lifting in the paramagnetic phase. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy results are in good agreement with theoretical ferromagnetic-phase calculations, which indicates the importance of ferromagnetic fluctuations in the system. Through our calculations, we predict that spin-polarized bands in EuZn 2 Sb 2 generate a single pair of Weyl nodes. Our observation of band splittingin EuZn 2 Sb 2 provides a key step toward realizing time-reversal symmetry breaking physics in the absence of long-range magnetic order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic properties of the double trillium lattice antiferromagnet KBaCr 2 ⁢(PO 4 ) 3

Trillium lattices formed by corner-shared triangular units are the platform for magnetic frustration in three dimensions. Herein, we report structural and magnetic properties of the Cr-based (S = 3/2) double trillium lattice material KBaCr 2 ⁢(PO 4 ) 3 studied by x-ray diffraction, dc and ac magnetization, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements complemented by density-functional band-structure calculations. Magnetization, heat capacity, and 31 P NMR measurements reveal the magnetic transition at T N⁢1 ≃ 12.5 K in zero field followed by another transition (T N⁢2 ) at low temperatures in weak applied fields. The 31 P spin-lattice relaxation rate in the ordered state follows the T 3 behavior indicative of the two-magnon Raman process. Finally, the spin lattice of KBaCr 2 ⁢(PO 4 ) 3 comprises two crystallographically nonequivalent ferromagnetic sublattices that are coupled antiferromagnetically, thus eliminating frustration in this trillium network and leading to weak ferromagnetism in the vicinity of T N⁢1 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Observation of Electrically Tunable van Hove Singularities in Twisted Bilayer Graphene from NanoARPES

The possibility of triggering correlated phenomena by placing a singularity of the density of states near the Fermi energy remains an intriguing avenue toward engineering the properties of quantum materials. Twisted bilayer graphene is a key material in this regard because the superlattice produced by the rotated graphene layers introduces a van Hove singularity and flat bands near the Fermi energy that cause the emergence of numerous correlated phases, including superconductivity. Direct demonstration of electrostatic control of the superlattice bands over a wide energy range has, so far, been critically missing. This work examines the effect of electrical doping on the electronic band structure of twisted bilayer graphene using a back-gated device architecture for angle-resolved photoemission measurements with a nano-focused light spot. A twist angle of 12.2° is selected such that the superlattice Brillouin zone is sufficiently large to enable identification of van Hove singularities and flat band segments in momentum space. Finally, the doping dependence of these features is extracted over an energy range of 0.4 eV, expanding the combinations of twist angle and doping where they can be placed at the Fermi energy and thereby induce new correlated electronic phases in twisted bilayer graphene.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Strong-coupling expansion of multi-band interacting models: Mapping onto the transverse-field J 1 - J 2 Ising model

We investigate a class of two-dimensional two-band microscopic models in which the inter-band repulsive interactions play the dominant role. We first demonstrate three different schemes of constraining the ratios between the three types of inter-band interactions – density-density, spin exchange, and pair-hopping – that render the model free of the fermionic sign-problem for any filling and, consequently, amenable to efficient Quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We then study the behavior of these sign-problem-free models in the strong-coupling regime. In the cases where spin-rotational invariance is preserved or lowered to a planar symmetry, the strong-coupling ground state is a quantum paramagnet. However, in the case where there is only a residual Ising symmetry, the strong-coupling expansion maps onto the transverse-field J 1 - J 2 Ising model, whose pseudospins are associated with local inter-band magnetic order. We show that by varying the band structure parameters within a reasonable range of values, a variety of ground states and quantum critical points can be accessed in the strong-coupling regime, some of which are not realized in the weak-coupling regime. Here, we compare these results with the case of the single-band Hubbard model, where only intra-band repulsion is present, and whose strong-coupling behavior is captured by a simple Heisenberg model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Deep-learning atomistic semi-empirical pseudopotential model for nanomaterials

The semi-empirical pseudopotential method (SEPM) has been widely applied to provide computational insights into the electronic structure, photophysics, and charge carrier dynamics of nanoscale materials. We present “DeepPseudopot”, a machine-learned atomistic pseudopotential model that extends the SEPM framework by combining a flexible neural network representation of the local pseudopotential with parameterized non-local and spin-orbit coupling terms. Trained on bulk quasiparticle band structures and deformation potentials from GW calculations, the model captures many-body and relativistic effects with very high accuracy across diverse semiconducting materials, as illustrated for silicon and group III-V semiconductors. DeepPseudopot’s accuracy, efficiency, and transferability make it well-suited for data-driven in silico design and discovery of novel optoelectronic nanomaterials.

Lin, Kailai [University of California, Berkeley, C↗

Analysis methodology of coherent oscillations in time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Oscillatory signals from coherently excited phonons are regularly observed in ultrafast pump–probe experiments on condensed matter samples. Electron–phonon coupling implies that coherent phonons also modulate the electronic band structure. These oscillations can be probed with energy and momentum resolution using time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES), which reveals the orbital dependence of the electron–phonon coupling for a specific phonon mode. However, a comprehensive analysis remains challenging when multiple coherent phonon modes couple to multiple electronic bands. Complex spectral line shapes due to strong correlations in quantum materials add to this challenge. In this work, we examine how the frequency domain representation of trARPES data facilitates a quantitative analysis of coherent oscillations of the electronic bands. Here, we investigate the frequency domain representation of the photoemission intensity and the first moment of the energy distribution curves. Both quantities provide complementary information and are able to distinguish oscillations of binding energy, linewidth, and intensity. We analyze a representative trARPES dataset of the transition metal dichalcogenide WTe 2 and construct composite spectra, which intuitively illustrate how much each electronic band is affected by a specific phonon mode. We also show how a linearly chirped probe pulse can generate extrinsic artifacts that are distinct from the intrinsic coherent phonon signal.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗