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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Low-energy magnons in the chiral ferrimagnet Cu 2 OSeO 3 : A coarse-grained approach

We report a comprehensive neutron scattering study of low energy magnetic excitations in the breathing pyrochlore helimagnetic Cu2OSeO3. Fully documenting the four lowest energy magnetic modes that leave the ferrimagnetic configuration of the “strong tetrahedra” intact (| ℏ ω| < 13 meV), we find gapless quadratic dispersion at the Γ point for energies above 0.2 meV, two doublets separated by 1.6(2) meV at the R point, and a bounded continuum at the X point. Our constrained rigid spin cluster model relates these features to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions and the incommensurate helical ground state. Combining conventional spin wave theory with a spin cluster form factor accurately reproduces the measured equal time structure factor through multiple Brillouin zones. An effective spin Hamiltonian describing complex anisotropic intercluster interactions is obtained.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Competing Magnetic Interactions in the Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator MnBi 2 Te 4

The antiferromagnetic (AFM) compound MnBi 2 Te 4 is suggested to be the first realization of an AFM topological insulator. Here, we report on inelastic neutron scattering studies of the magnetic interactions in MnBi 2 Te 4 that possess ferromagnetic triangular layers with AFM interlayer coupling. The spin waves display a large spin gap and pairwise exchange interactions within the triangular layer are long ranged and frustrated by large next-nearest neighbor AFM exchange. The degree of frustration suggests proximity to a variety of magnetic phases, potentially including skyrmion phases, which could be accessed in chemically tuned compounds or upon the application of symmetry-breaking fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantum Spin Dynamics Due to Strong Kitaev Interactions in the Triangular-Lattice Antiferromagnet CsCeSe 2

The extraordinary properties of the Kitaev model have motivated an intense search for new physics in materials that combine geometrical and bond frustration. In this Letter, we employ inelastic neutron scattering, spin wave theory, and exact diagonalization to study the spin dynamics in the perfect triangular-lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) CsCeSe 2 . This material orders into a stripe phase, which is demonstrated to arise as a consequence of the off-diagonal bond-dependent terms in the spin Hamiltonian. By studying the spin dynamics at intermediate fields, we identify an interaction between the single-magnon state and the two-magnon continuum that causes decay of coherent magnon excitations, level repulsion, and transfer of spectral weight to the continuum that are controlled by the strength of the magnetic field. Our results provide a microscopic mechanism for the stabilization of the stripe phase in TLAF and show how complex many-body physics can be present in the spin dynamics in a magnet with strong Kitaev coupling even in an ordered ground state. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum stabilization of unexpected ordered phases on the honeycomb lattice

In this work, I discuss and showcase the utility of the method called minimally-augmented spin-wave theory (MAGSWT) as a relatively simple semi-analytical approach to the phase diagrams of quantum magnets. It complements numerical methods by providing physical insight into which states are competitive and by yielding approximate phase boundaries that agree well with much more numerically intensive calculations. This approach enabled me to construct the faithful phase diagrams of two paradigmatic honeycomb-lattice models in the quantum S=1/2 limit, the J 1 –J 3 FM-AF and J 1 –J 2 AF models, for the collinear quantum phases that replace or extend the classical ones. The results are in good qualitative and semi-quantitative agreement with state-of-the-art numerical studies for these models, correctly capturing the emergence of unexpected quantum phases and the suppression of classically favored spiral orders by quantum fluctuations. This study provides a much-needed important guidance to the ongoing theoretical and experimental searches of the unconventional quantum states. This work will be of significant and timely interest to both theorists and experimentalists in the field of quantum magnetism, broadly defined.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Magnetoelastic distortion of multiferroic BiFeO 3 in the canted antiferromagnetic state

Using THz spectroscopy, here we show that the spin-wave spectrum of multiferroic BiFeO 3 in its high-field canted antiferromagnetic state is well described by a spin model that violates rhombohedral symmetry. We demonstrate that the monoclinic distortion of the canted antiferromagnetic state is induced by the single-ion magnetoelastic coupling between the lattice and the two nearly antiparallel spins. The revised spin model for BiFeO 3 contains two new single-ion anisotropy terms that violate rhombohedral symmetry and depend on the direction of the magnetic field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Magnetic field dependence of low-energy magnons, anisotropic heat conduction, and spontaneous relaxation of magnetic domains in the cubic helimagnet ZnCr 2 Se 4

Here, anisotropic low-temperature properties of the cubic spinel helimagnet ZnCr 2 Se 4 in the single-domain spin-spiral state are investigated by a combination of neutron scattering, thermal conductivity, ultrasound velocity, and dilatometry measurements. In an applied magnetic field, neutron spectroscopy shows a complex and nonmonotonic evolution of the spin-wave spectrum across the quantum-critical point that separates the spin-spiral phase from the field-polarized ferromagnetic phase at high fields. A tiny spin gap of the pseudo-Goldstone magnon mode, observed at wave vectors that are structurally equivalent but orthogonal to the propagation vector of the spin helix, vanishes at this quantum critical point, restoring the cubic symmetry in the magnetic subsystem. The anisotropy imposed by the spin helix has only a minor influence on the lattice structure and sound velocity but has a much stronger effect on the heat conductivities measured parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic propagation vector. The thermal transport is anisotropic at T≲ 2K, highly sensitive to an external magnetic field, and likely results directly from magnonic heat conduction. We also report long-time thermal relaxation phenomena, revealed by capacitive dilatometry, which are due to magnetic domain motion related to the destruction of the single-domain magnetic state, initially stabilized in the sample by the application and removal of magnetic field. Our results can be generalized to a broad class of helimagnetic materials in which a discrete lattice symmetry is spontaneously broken by the magnetic order.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Low-energy electronic interactions in ferrimagnetic Sr 2 CrReO 6 thin films

We reveal in this study the fundamental low-energy landscape in the ferrimagnetic Sr 2 CrReO 6 double perovskite and describe the underlying mechanisms responsible for the three low-energy excitations below 1.4 eV. Here, based on resonant inelastic x-ray scattering and magnetic dynamics calculations, and experiments collected from both Sr 2 CrReO 6 powders and epitaxially strained thin films, we reveal a strong competition between spin-orbit coupling, Hund’s coupling, and the strain-induced tetragonal crystal field. Here, we also demonstrate that a spin-flip process is at the origin of the lowest excitation at 200 meV, and we bring insights into the predicted presence of orbital ordering in this material. We study the nature of the magnons through a combination of ab initio and spin-wave theory calculations, and show that two nondegenerate magnon bands exist and are dominated either by rhenium or chromium spins. The rhenium band is found to be flat at about 200 meV (±25 meV) through X-L-W-U high-symmetry points and is dispersive toward Γ.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Slow-Wave Hybrid Magnonics

Cavity magnonics is an emerging research area focusing on the coupling between magnons and photons. Despite its great potential for coherent information processing, it has been long restricted by the narrow interaction bandwidth. Here, in this Letter, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel approach to achieve broadband photon-magnon coupling by adopting slow waves on engineered microwave waveguides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that slow wave is combined with hybrid magnonics. Its unique properties promise great potentials for both fundamental research and practical applications, for instance, by deepening our understanding of the light -matter interaction in the slow wave regime and providing high -efficiency spin wave transducers. The device concept can be extended to other systems such as optomagnonics and magnomechanics, opening up new directions for hybrid magnonics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Magnetic excitations in infinite-layer nickelates

The discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates brings us tantalizingly close to a material class that mirrors the cuprate superconductors. We measured the magnetic excitations in these nickelates using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Ni L 3 -edge. Undoped NdNiO 2 possesses a branch of dispersive excitations with a bandwidth of approximately 200 milli–electron volts, which is reminiscent of the spin wave of strongly coupled, antiferromagnetically aligned spins on a square lattice. The substantial damping of these modes indicates the importance of coupling to rare-earth itinerant electrons. Upon doping, the spectral weight and energy decrease slightly, whereas the modes become overdamped. Our results highlight the role of Mottness in infinite-layer nickelates.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetic excitations and interactions in the Kitaev hyperhoneycomb iridate β –Li 2 ⁢IrO 3

Here, we present a thorough experimental study of the three-dimensional hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet β –Li 2 ⁢IrO 3 , using a combination of inelastic neutron scattering (INS), time-domain terahertz spectroscopy (TDTS), and heat capacity measurements. The main results include a massive low-temperature reorganization of the INS spectral weight that evolves into a broad peak centered around 12 meV, and a distinctive peak in the terahertz data at 2.8(1) meV. A detailed comparison to powder-averaged spin-wave theory calculations reveals that the positions of these two features are controlled by the anisotropic Γ coupling and the Heisenberg exchange J, respectively. The refined microscopic spin model places β –Li 2 ⁢IrO 3 in close proximity to the Kitaev spin liquid phase.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spontaneous magnon decays from nonrelativistic time-reversal symmetry breaking in altermagnets

Quasiparticles are central to condensed matter physics, but their stability can be undermined by quantum many-body interactions. Magnons, i.e., quasiparticles in quantum magnets, are particularly intriguing because their properties are governed by both real and spin space. While crystal symmetries may be low, spin interactions often remain approximately isotropic, limiting spontaneous magnon decay. Textbook wisdom holds that collinear Heisenberg magnets follow a dichotomy: ferromagnets host stable magnons, while antiferromagnetic magnons may decay depending on dispersion curvature. Up to now, relativistic spin-orbit coupling and noncollinear order that connect spin space to real space were shown to introduce more complex magnon instability mechanisms. Here, we show that even in nonrelativistic isotropic collinear systems, this conventional dichotomy is disrupted in altermagnets. Altermagnets, a newly identified class of collinear magnets, exhibit compensated spin order with nonrelativistic time-reversal symmetry breaking and even-parity band splitting. Using kinematic analysis, nonlinear spin-wave theory, and quantum simulations, we reveal that even weak band splitting opens a decay phase space, driving quasiparticle breakdown. Additionally, 𝑑-wave altermagnets form a rare “island of stability” at the Brillouin-zone center. Furthermore, our findings establish a quasiparticle stability trichotomy in collinear Heisenberg magnets and position altermagnets as a promising platform for unconventional spin dynamics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

3⁢𝑄 magnetic order with spatially alternating spin scalar chirality in overdoped C⁢o 0.336⁢ Ta⁢S 2

C⁢o 𝑥 ⁢Ta⁢S 2 (𝑥≈1/3) exhibits a spontaneous Hall effect from spin texture in antiferromagnets, with a tetrahedral triple-Q (3Q) order and uniform spin scalar chirality. Upon Co overdoping (𝑥>1/3), it undergoes a shift in magnetic ordering vectors from 𝐐 m =(1/2, 0, 0) to (1/3, 0, 0). Interestingly, the spontaneous Hall effect disappeared in the overdoped regime, which was originally attributed to the loss of 3Q order. However, a question remains whether a new type of 3Q order can exist with alternating chirality in the overdoped regime. To address this, we investigated C⁢o 0.336⁢ Ta⁢S 2 using inelastic neutron scattering (INS), neutron diffraction, and optical dichroism, and found that INS data and spin-wave simulations support a 3Q order with alternating chirality. Moreover, neutron diffraction data show field-independent Bragg peaks, while linear dichroism detects no in-plane anisotropy, consistent with threefold rotation symmetry. Our data support the scenario of an alternating-chirality 3Q order in C⁢o 0.336 ⁢Ta⁢S 2 , canceling the spontaneous Hall effect. Furthermore, this study highlights a combined neutron-optical approach to identify complex spin textures.

Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dynamics and thermodynamics of the 𝑆 = $\frac{5}{2}$ almost Heisenberg triangular lattice antiferromagnet K 2⁢ Mn⁢(SeO 3 ) 2

Here, we report calorimetric, magnetic, and neutron scattering studies on an 𝑆 = 5/2, nearly Heisenberg triangular-lattice antiferromagnet K 2 ⁢Mn⁢(SeO 3 ) 2 with weak XXZ easy-axis anisotropy. Multiple magnetic phases are identified, including a noncollinear Y phase in zero field, a field-induced collinear 𝑚 = 1/3 magnetization plateau, and a high-field V phase. In the Y phase, the magnetic excitation spectrum exhibits both single-magnon excitations and an extended high-energy continuum. Both features are well described by nonlinear spin wave theory. In the field-induced phases, complex effects of the spectrum renormalization even for large 𝑆 = 5/2 material are clearly detectable. These results underscore the essential role of magnon-magnon interactions in the dynamics of large-𝑆 Heisenberg spin systems on a triangular lattice.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Collective dynamics of polarized spin-half fermions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Standard relativistic hydrodynamics has been successful in describing the properties of the strongly interacting matter produced in the heavy-ion collision experiments. Recently, there has been a significant theoretical advancement in this field to explain spin polarization of hadrons emitted in these processes. Although current models have successfully explained some of the experimental data based on the coupling between spin polarization and vorticity of the medium, they still lack a clear understanding of the differential measurements. This is commonly interpreted as an indication that the spin needs to be treated as an independent degree of freedom whose dynamics is not entirely bound to flow circulation. In particular, if the spin is a macroscopic property of the system, in equilibrium its dynamics should follow hydrodynamic laws. Here, we develop a framework of relativistic hydrodynamics which includes spin degrees of freedom from the quantum kinetic theory for Dirac fermions and use it for modeling the dynamics of matter. Following experimental observations, we assume that the polarization effects are small and derive conservation laws for the net baryon current, the energy–momentum tensor and the spin tensor based on the de Groot–van Leeuwen–van Weert definitions of these currents. We present various properties of the spin polarization tensor and its components, analyze the propagation properties of the spin polarization components, and derive the spin-wave velocity for arbitrary statistics. We find that only the transverse spin components propagate, analogously to the electromagnetic waves. Finally, using our framework, we study the space–time evolution of the spin polarization for the systems respecting certain space–time symmetries and calculate the mean spin polarization per particle, which can be compared to the experimental data. We find that, for some observables, our spin polarization results agree qualitatively with the experimental findings and other model calculations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

A personal spin on spin currents

This article contains my personal account on how I got interested in spin transport phenomena, which ultimately resulted in investigating multiple facets of spin–orbit torques, as well as magnetization dynamics. Originally this research focused on questions that seemed rather academic with little relevance to applications. But over time it developed into one of the key research areas for modern spintronic devices. This journey started off with investigating spin polarized charge currents, later focused on pure spin currents, and ultimately explored spin waves (magnons) as the potential carriers of spin information. Most of this work was performed in the Magnetic Films group of the Argonne National Laboratory, which for more than three decades used to be one of the world-leading places for magnetism research.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗