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At least 1,189 records · Page 66

Defect-engineered room-temperature ferromagnetism in quasi-two-dimensional nitrided CoTa 2 O 6

Thermal ammonolysis of quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) CoTa 2 O 6 yields the O 2– /N 3– and anionic vacancy-ordered Co 2+ $Ta^{5+}_{2}$O 6–x N 2x/3 $\square$ x/3 (x $\leqslant$ 0.15), which exhibits a transition from antiferromagnetism to defect-engineered above-room-temperature ferromagnetism. First-principles calculations reveal that the origin of ferromagnetism is a particular CoO 5 N configuration with N located at Wyckoff position 8j, which breaks mirror symmetry about the ab plane. A pressure-induced electronic phase transition is also predicted at ~24.5 GPa, accompanied by insulator-to-metal transition and magnetic moment vanishing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Charge ordering in Ir dimers in the ground state of Ba 5 AlIr 2 O 11

It has been well established experimentally that the interplay of electronic correlations and spin-orbit interactions in Ir 4+ and Ir 5+ oxides results in insulating J eff = 1/2 and J eff = 0 ground states, respectively. However, in compounds where the structural dimerization of iridium ions is favorable, the direct Ir d-d hybridization can be significant and takes a key role. Here, in this study, we investigate the effects of direct Ir d-d hybridization in comparison with electronic correlations and spin-orbit coupling in Ba 5 AlIr 2 O 11 , a compound with Ir dimers. Using a combination of ab initio many-body wave-function quantum chemistry calculations and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments, we elucidate the electronic structure of Ba 5 AlIr 2 O 11 . We find excellent agreement between the calculated and the measured spin-orbit excitations. Contrary to expectations, the analysis of the many-body wave function shows that the two Ir (Ir 4+ and Ir 5+ ) ions in the Ir 2 O 9 dimer unit in this compound preserve their local J eff character close to 1/2 and 0, respectively. The local point group symmetry at each of the Ir ions plays an important role, significantly limiting the direct d-d hybridization. Our results emphasize that minute details in the local crystal field environment can lead to dramatic differences in the electronic states in iridates and 5d oxides in general.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Gapless spinons and a field-induced soliton gap in the hyperhoneycomb Cu oxalate framework compound [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 NH] 2 Cu 2 (C 2 O 4 ) 3

Here, we report a detailed study of the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of a spin-liquid candidate: the hyperhoneycomb Cu oxalate framework compound [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 NH] 2 Cu 2 (C 2 O 4 ) 3 . The specific heat shows no anomaly associated with a magnetic transition at low temperatures down to T ~ 180 mK in zero magnetic field. We observe a large linear-in-T contribution to the specific heat γT, γ = 98 (1) mJ / mol K 2 , at low temperatures, indicative of the presence of fermionic excitations despite the Mott insulating state. The low-T specific heat is strongly suppressed by applied magnetic fields H, which induce an energy gap, Δ(H), in the spin-excitation spectrum. We use the four-component relativistic density-functional theory (DFT) to calculate the magnetic interactions, including the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya antisymmetric exchange, which causes an effective staggered field acting on one copper sublattice. The magnitude and field dependence of the field-induced gap, Δ (H) ∝ H 2/3 , are accurately predicted by the soliton mass calculated from the sine-Gordon model of weakly coupled antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains with all parameters determined by our DFT calculations. Thus our experiment and calculations are entirely consistent with a model of [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 NH] 2 Cu 2 (C 2 O 4 ) 3 in which anisotropic magnetic exchange interactions due to Jahn-Teller distortion cause one copper sublattice to dimerize, leaving a second sublattice of weakly coupled antiferromagnetic chains. We also show that this model quantitatively accounts for the measured temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility. Thus [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 NH] 2 Cu 2 (C 2 O 4 ) 3 is a canonical example of a one-dimensional spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet and not a resonating-valence-bond quantum spin liquid, as previously proposed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnon interactions in the quantum paramagnetic phase of CoNb 2 O 6

In this work, we study effects of magnon interactions in the excitation spectrum of CoNb 2 O 6 in the quantum paramagnetic phase in transverse field, where the 1/S spin-wave theory exhibits unphysical divergences at the critical field. We propose a self-consistent Hartree-Fock approach that eliminates such unphysical singularities while preserving the integrity of the singular threshold phenomena of magnon decay and spectrum renormalization that are present in both theory and experiment. With the microscopic parameters adopted from previous studies, this method yields a close quantitative agreement with the available experimental data for CoNb 2 O 6 in the relevant regime. Furthermore, insights into the general structure of the spin-anisotropic model of CoNb 2 O 6 and related zigzag chain materials are also provided and a discussion of the effects of additional longitudinal field on the spectrum is given.

1-dimensional spin chains↗

Effects of Na deficiency on spin dynamics in the Mott insulating Na 4−x Ir 3 O 8

Here, we report on Raman scattering and 23 Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigations of j eff = 1/2 hyperkagome antiferromagnet Na 4−x Ir 3 O 8 , which lies in the Mott insulating state. Our Raman scattering experiments unveil remarkable parallels between the magnetic excitations of the pristine Na 4 Ir 3 O 8 and the Kitaev honeycomb material Na 2 IrO 3 , which are characterized by dominant fractional spinon excitations. In the case of moderate Na-deficient Na 4−x Ir 3 O 8 , however, a substantial suppression of the magnetic excitations is observed, alluding to the notable influence of charge fluctuations on spin dynamics. In addition, our site-specific 23 Na NMR measurements offer further insights into the spin dynamics when a minor concentration of holes is introduced into a spin-orbit coupled Mott insulator. Specifically, the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/ T 1 reveals the emergence of pseudogaplike correlations at the Na(2) site, alongside a critical slowing down behavior at the Na(1) and Na(3) sites. These findings showcase the intricate interplay between itinerant holes and magnetic correlations in a spin-liquid-like background.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Local distortion driven magnetic phase switching in pyrochlore Yb 2 ( Ti 1 - x Sn x ) 2 O 7

While it is commonly accepted that the disorder induced by magnetic ion doping in quantum magnets usually generates a rugged free-energy landscape resulting in slow or glassy spin dynamics, the disorder/distortion effects associated with nonmagnetic ion sites doping are still illusive. Here, using AC susceptibility measurements, we show that the mixture of Sn/Ti on the nonmagnetic ion sites of pyrochlore Yb 2 ⁢(Ti 1-x⁢ Sn x ) 2⁢ O 7 induces an antiferromagnetic ground state despite both parent compounds, Yb 2 ⁢Ti 2 ⁢O 7 and Yb 2 ⁢Sn 2⁢ O 7 , order ferromagnetically. Local structure studies through neutron total scattering reveals the local distortion in the nonmagnetic ion sites and its strong correlation with the magnetic phase switching. Further, our study demonstrates the local distortion as induced by the nonmagnetic ion site mixture could be a new path to achieve magnetic phase switching, which has been traditionally obtained by external stimuli such as temperature, magnetic field, pressure, strain, light, etc.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Block Mott insulating state induced by next-nearest-neighbor hopping in the S = 3 2 zigzag chain BaCoTe 2 O 7

Quasi-one-dimensional correlated electronic multiorbital systems with either ladder or chain geometries continue attracting considerable interest due to their complex electronic phases arising from the interplay of the hopping matrix, the crystal-field splitting, the electronic correlations (Hubbard repulsion U and Hund coupling J H ), and strong quantum fluctuations. Recently, the intriguing cobalt zigzag chain system BaCoTe 2 ⁢ O 7 , with electronic density n=7, was prepared experimentally. Here, we systematically study the electronic and magnetic properties of this quasi-one-dimensional compound from the theoretical perspective. Based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, strongly anisotropic one-dimensional electronic Co 3⁢d bands were found near the Fermi level. By evaluating the relevant hopping amplitudes, we provide the magnitude and origin of the nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) hopping matrices in BaCoTe 2 ⁢ O 7 . With this information, we constructed a three-orbital electronic Hubbard model for this zigzag chain system, and studied two cases: with only a NN hopping matrix, and with NN plus NNN hopping matrices. Introducing the Hubbard and Hund couplings and studying the model via the density matrix renormalization group method, we constructed the ground-state phase diagram. A robust staggered ↑ - ↓ - ↑ - ↓ antiferromagnetic (AFM) region was found when only the NN hopping matrix in the chain direction was employed. However, for the realistic case where the NNN hopping matrix is also included, the dominant state becomes instead a block AFM ↑ - ↑ - ↓ - ↓ order, in agreement with experiments. The system displays Mott insulator characteristics with three half-filled orbitals, when the block AFM order is stable. In conclusion, our results for BaCoTe 2 ⁢O 7 provide guidance to experimentalists and theorists working on this zigzag one-dimensional chain and related materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Invariant-mass spectrum of O 11

The invariant-mass distribution of O 11 fragments formed in two-neutron-knockout reactions with a O 13 projectile and Be 9 target has been also examined. Gating on events where the C 9 decay fragments produced following 2 p emission are recoiled transversely in the projectile's frame improves the overall invariant-mass resolution. The observed peak is now shown to have contributions from at least two O 11 levels, in contradiction with the suggestion of Fortune [ Phys. Rev. C 99 , 051302(R) (2019) ]. The data, yet, do not differentiate between the ground-state properties obtained by the Gamow coupled-channels calculation and the prompt 2 p -decay model of Fortune. The ground-state 2 p -decay energy is 4.25(6) MeV in a two-level fit to the data, but lower values are possible if more states contribute to the observed spectrum, as suggested in the previous analysis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Using spin alignment of inelastically excited nuclei in fast beams to assign spins: The spectroscopy of 13 O as a test case

Excited states in O 13 were investigated using inelastic scattering of an E / A = 69.5 MeV O 13 beam off of a Be 9 target. The excited states were identified in the invariant-mass spectra of the decay products. Both single-proton and sequential two-proton decays of the excited states were examined. Furthermore, for a number of the excited states, the protons were emitted with strong anisotropy where emissions transverse to the beam axis are favored. The measured proton-decay angular distributions were compared to predictions from distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations of the spin alignment which was shown to be largely independent of the excitation mechanism. The deduced O 13 level scheme is compared to ab initio no-core shell model with continuum predictions. The lowest-energy excited states decay isotropically consistent with predictions of strong proton 1 s 1 / 2 structure. Above these states in the level scheme, we observed a number of higher-spin states not predicted within the model. Possibly these are associated with rotational bands built on deformed cluster configurations predicted by antisymmetrized molecular dynamics calculations. The spin alignment mechanism is shown to be useful for making spin assignments and may have widespread use.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

First direct measurement of the 13 $\mathrm{N(α, ρ)}$ 16 $\mathrm{O}$ reaction relevant for core-collapse supernovae nucleosynthesis

We report that understanding the explosion mechanism of a core-collapse supernova (CCSN) is important to accurately model CCSN scenarios for different progenitor stars using model-observation comparisons. The uncertainties of various nuclear reaction rates relevant for CCSN scenarios strongly affect the accuracy of these stellar models. Out of these reactions, the 13 N(α, p) 16 O reaction has been found to affect various stages of a CCSN at varying temperatures. This work presents the first direct measurement of the 13 N(α, p) 16 O reaction performed using a 34.6 MeV beam of radioactive 13 N ions and the active-target detector MUSIC (MUlti-Sampling Ionization Chamber) at Argonne National Laboratory. The resulting total 13 N(α, p) 16 O reaction cross sections from this measurement in the center-of-mass energy range of 3.26 - 6.02 MeV are presented and compared with calculations using the Hauser-Feshbach formalism. Uncertainties in the reaction rate have been dramatically reduced at CCSN temperatures.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Bayesian estimation of the $S$ factor and thermonuclear reaction rate for 16 O(p, γ) 17 F

The 16 O(p, γ) 17 F reaction is the slowest hydrogen-burning process in the CNO mass region. Its thermonuclear rate sensitively impacts predictions of oxygen isotopic ratios in a number of astrophysical sites, including AGB stars. The reaction has been measured several times at low bombarding energies using a variety of techniques. The most recent evaluated experimental rates have a reported uncertainty of about 7.5% below 1 GK. However, the previous rate estimate represents a best guess only and was not based on rigorous statistical methods. We apply a Bayesian model to fit all reliable 16 O(p, γ) 17 F cross section data, and take into account independent contributions of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The nuclear reaction model employed is a single-particle potential model involving a Woods-Saxon potential for generating the radial bound state wave function. The model has three physical parameters, the radius and diffuseness of the Woods-Saxon potential, and the asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) of the final bound state in 17 F. Here, we find that performing the Bayesian S -factor fit using ANCs as scaling parameters has a distinct advantage over adopting spectroscopic factors instead. Based on these results, we present the first statistically rigorous estimation of experimental 16 O(p, γ) 17 F reaction rates, with uncertainties (±4.2%) of about half the previously reported values.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗

Deconvoluting experimental decay energy spectra: The O 26 case

In nuclear reaction experiments, the measured decay energy spectra can give insights into the shell structure of decaying systems. However, extracting the underlying physics from the measurements is challenging due to detector resolution and acceptance effects. The Richardson-Lucy (RL) algorithm, a deblurring method that is commonly used in optics and has proven to be a successful technique for restoring images, was applied to our experimental nuclear physics data. The only inputs to the method are the observed energy spectrum and the detector's response matrix also known as the transfer matrix. We demonstrate that the technique can help access information about the shell structure of particle-unbound systems from the measured decay energy spectrum that is not immediately accessible via traditional approaches such as χ-square fitting. For a similar purpose, we developed a machine learning model that uses a deep neural network (DNN) classifier to identify resonance states from the measured decay energy spectrum. We tested the performance of both methods on simulated data and experimental measurements. Then, we applied both algorithms to the decay energy spectrum of 26 O → 24 O + n + n measured via invariant mass spectroscopy. Here, the resonance states restored using the RL algorithm to deblur the measured decay energy spectrum agree with those found by the DNN classifier. Both deblurring and DNN approaches suggest that the raw decay energy spectrum of 26 O exhibits three peaks at approximately 0.15 MeV, 1.50 MeV, and 5.00 MeV, with half-widths of 0.29 MeV, 0.80 MeV, and 1.85 MeV, respectively.

Spectrometers & spectroscopic techniques↗

First β -delayed neutron spectroscopy of 24 O

The β decay of 24 O was investigated at NSCL/MSU using a combination of neutron and γ-ray spectroscopy. For the first time, the β-delayed neutron energy spectrum of 24 O was measured, revealing three intensely populated, isolated neutron-unbound states in 24 F. This allowed for the extraction of the decay strength in 24 F up to 6.2 MeV. A comprehensive comparison of the experimental results with various nuclear theories, ranging from the empirical shell model to the most advanced ab initio calculations, was conducted. While most theoretical predictions align with the experimental data for low-lying states, discrepancies arise at higher excitation energies. Finally, in the transition from 24 O to 24 F, shell model calculations using the empirical USDB interaction predicted the structure of both nuclei without invoking the need for a stronger proton-neutron tensor force, which was postulated for the neighboring isotone 25 F.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Symmetry breaking in an extended O(2) model

Motivated by attempts to quantum simulate lattice models with continuous Abelian symmetries using discrete approximations, we study an extended-O(2) model in two dimensions that differs from the ordinary O(2) model by the addition of an explicit symmetry breaking term − h q cos ( q φ ) . Its coupling h q allows to smoothly interpolate between the O(2) model ( h q = 0 ) and a q -state clock model ( h q → ∞ ). In the latter case, a q -state clock model can also be defined for noninteger values of q . Thus, such a limit can also be considered as an analytic continuation of an ordinary q -state clock model to noninteger q . In previous work, we established the phase diagram for noninteger q in the infinite coupling limit ( h q → ∞ ). We showed that there is a second-order phase transition at low temperature and a crossover at high temperature. In this work, we seek to establish the phase diagram at finite values of the coupling using Monte Carlo and tensor methods. We show that for noninteger q , the second-order phase transition at low temperature and crossover at high temperature persist to finite coupling. For integer q = 2 , 3, 4, we know there is a second-order phase transition at infinite coupling (i.e. the well-known clock models). At finite coupling, we find that the critical exponents for q = 3 , 4 vary with the coupling, and for q = 4 the transition may turn into a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition at small coupling. We comment on the similarities and differences of the phase diagrams with those of quantum simulators of the Abelian-Higgs model based on ladder-shaped arrays of Rydberg atoms. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Understanding Reentrance in Frustrated Magnets: The Case of the Er 2 Sn 2 O 7 Pyrochlore

Reentrance, the return of a system from an ordered phase to a previously encountered less-ordered one as a controlled parameter is continuously varied, is a recurring theme found in disparate physical systems, yet its microscopic cause is often not investigated thoroughly. Here, through detailed characterization and theoretical modeling, we uncover the microscopic mechanism behind reentrance in the strongly frustrated pyrochlore antiferromagnet Er 2 Sn 2 O 7 . We use single crystal heat capacity measurements to expose that Er 2 Sn 2 O 7 exhibits multiple instances of reentrance in its magnetic field B vs temperature T phase diagram for magnetic fields along three cubic high symmetry directions. Through classical Monte Carlo simulations, mean field theory, and classical linear spin-wave expansions, we argue that the origins of the multiple occurrences of reentrance observed in Er 2 Sn 2 O 7 are linked to soft modes. These soft modes arise from phase competition and enhance thermal fluctuations that entropically stabilize a specific ordered phase, resulting in an increased transition temperature for certain field values and thus the reentrant behavior. Our work represents a detailed examination into the mechanisms responsible for reentrance in a frustrated magnet and may serve as a template for the interpretation of reentrant phenomena in other physical systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Proton Distribution Radii of 16–24 O: Signatures of New Shell Closures and Neutron Skin

The root mean square radii of the proton density distribution in 16–24 O derived from measurements of charge changing cross sections with a carbon target at ~900A MeV together with the matter radii portray thick neutron skin for 22–24 O despite 22,24 O being doubly magic. Imprints of the shell closures at N=14 and 16 are reflected in local minima of their proton radii that provide evidence for the tensor interaction causing them. The radii agree with ab initio calculations employing the chiral NNLO sat interaction, though skin thickness predictions are challenged. Furthermore, shell model predictions agree well with the data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Emergence of Spinons in Layered Trimer Iridate Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10

Spinons are well-known as the elementary excitations of one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chains, but means to realize spinons in higher dimensions is the subject of intense research. Here, we use resonant x-ray scattering to study the layered trimer iridate Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 , which shows no magnetic order down to 0.2 K. An emergent one-dimensional spinon continuum is observed that can be well-described by XXZ spin-1/2 chains with magnetic exchange of ~55 meV and a small Ising-like anisotropy. With 2% isovalent Sr doping, magnetic order appears below TN=130 K along with sharper excitations, indicating that the spinons become more confined in (Ba 1-x Sr x ) 4 Ir 3 O 10 . We propose that the frustrated intra-trimer interactions effectively reduce the system into decoupled spin chains, the subtle balance of which can be easily tipped by perturbations such as chemical doping. Our results put Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 between the one-dimensional chain and two-dimensional quantum spin liquid scenarios, illustrating a new way to suppress magnetic order and realize fractional spinons.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Tunable magnetic order in low-symmetry SeO 3 ligand linked TM 3 (SeO 3 ) 3 H 2 O ( TM =Mn , Co, and Ni) compounds

The ability to design crystal lattices with specific sublattice geometries has long been sought after especially in the context of harnessing magnetic frustration to elicit emergent physics. One approach which has seen some success recently is to design magnetic sublattices chemically through the use of nonmagnetic linker ligands as scaffolding for the magnetic ions. In this work we report the magnetic properties of one such family of materials, the transition metal (TM) selenite hydrates with chemical formula TM 3 (SeO 3 ) 3 H 2 O. These materials link highly distorted TMO 6 octahedra via nonmagnetic [SeO 3 ] 2+ linkers. Studying members with TM = Mn, Co, and Ni we use magnetic susceptibility and neutron powder diffraction to identify antiferromagnetic order in all three compounds with moderate frustration indexes. A comparison of the magnetic structures suggests that while the overall structure of the SeO 3 scaffolding remains unchanged the TM effects changes in the magnetic properties through tuning the internal bonding parameters and the single-ion physics. Changing from Mn to Co is found to be particularly consequential manifesting changes in both the ordered-moment direction and in the direction of the ordering vector. Field-dependent measurements of the susceptibility and heat capacity reveal metamagnetic transitions in both Mn 3 (SeO 3 ) 3 H 2 O and Co 3 (SeO 3 ) 3 H 2 O indicating nearby magnetic ground states accessible under relatively small applied fields. Density functional theory calculations broadly confirm these results, showing both a sensitivity of the magnetic structure to the TM and its local environment. Although no spin liquid behavior is achieved, these results suggest the fruitfulness of such synthesis philosophies and encourage future work to engender higher frustration in these materials via doping, field, pressure, or larger linker ligands.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗