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In situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy experiments demonstrate that skyrmions in magnetoelectric helimagnet Cu2OSeO3 can be written and erased locally by electric fields with an ultralow energy barrier.

We study the magnetoelectric effect in LiFePO4 using the pyrocurrent method to determine the magnetic-field-induced electric polarization as a function of temperature for various applied magnetic field strengths. We discover a diagonal magnetoelectric tensor element not previously reported. This new coupling reflects the emergence of an electric polarization along a induced by a magnetic field along the same direction and is consistent with the symmetry-imposed requirements for the small canting components of the magnetic ground state reported for this compound. Our observation is thus further evidence for a ground state which is not supported by the space group Pnma as originally assigned to LiFePO4.

We address the degeneracy of the ground state multiplet on the 5d 1 Re6+ ion in double perovskite Ba2MgReO6 using a combination of specific heat measurements and density functional calculations. For Ba2MgReO6, two different ground state multiplets have previously been proposed—a quartet (with degeneracy N = 4) (Hirai and Hiroi 2019 J. Phys. Soc. Japan 88 064712) and a doublet (N = 2) (Marjerrison et al 2016 Inorg. Chem. 55 10701). Here we employ two independent methods for the estimation of phonon contribution in heat capacity data to obtain the magnetic entropy Smag, which reflects the degeneracy of the ground state multiplet N through Smag = R lnN. In both cases, we obtain that in the temperature range covering 2 to 120 K the released entropy is better described by Smag = R ln2. The detailed nature of the ground state multiplet in Ba2MgReO6 remains an open question., Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 35 (24), ISSN:0953-8984, ISSN:1361-648X

Magnetic anisotropy is anticipated to govern the formation of exotic spin textures reported recently in cubic chiral magnets, like low-temperature tilted conical and skyrmion lattice (SkL) states and metastable SkLs with various lattice geometry. Motivated by these findings, we quantified the cubic anisotropy in a series of CoZnMn-type cubic chiral magnets. We found that the strength of anisotropy is highly enhanced towards low temperatures. Moreover, not only the magnitude but also the character of cubic anisotropy drastically varies upon changing the Co/Mn ratio. We correlate these changes with temperature- and composition-induced variations of the helical modulation vectors, deformations of skyrmions, structural rearrangements of the metastable SkLs and the large enhancement of Gilbert damping. Similar studies on magnetic anisotropy are required for the quantitative, unified description of the known stable and metastable modulated spin textures and for the systematic exploration of novel ones in this large class of skyrmion hosts.

At the familiar liquid-gas phase transition in water, the density jumps discontinuously at atmospheric pressure, but the line of these first-order transitions defined by increasing pressures terminates at the critical point, a concept ubiquitous in statistical thermodynamics. In correlated quantum materials, a critical point was predicted and measured terminating the line of Mott metal-insulator transitions, which are also first-order with a discontinuous charge density. In quantum spin systems, continuous quantum phase transitions (QPTs) have been investigated extensively, but discontinuous QPTs have received less attention. The frustrated quantum antiferromagnet SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ constitutes a near-exact realization of the paradigmatic Shastry-Sutherland model and displays exotic phenomena including magnetization plateaux, anomalous thermodynamics and discontinuous QPTs. We demonstrate by high-precision specific-heat measurements under pressure and applied magnetic field that, like water, the pressure-temperature phase diagram of SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ has an Ising critical point terminating a first-order transition line, which separates phases with different densities of magnetic particles (triplets). We achieve a quantitative explanation of our data by detailed numerical calculations using newly-developed finite-temperature tensor-network methods. These results open a new dimension in understanding the thermodynamics of quantum magnetic materials, where the anisotropic spin interactions producing topological properties for spintronic applications drive an increasing focus on first-order QPTs., 8+4 pages, 4+3 figures

Topological spin textures such as skyrmions hold high potential for use as magnetically active elements in diverse near-future applications. While skyrmions in metallic multilayers attract great attention in this context, unleashing the myriad potential of skyrmions for various applications requires the discovery and customization of alternative host system paradigms. Here we developed and applied a chemical method to synthesize octahedral particles of the chiral insulating skyrmion host Cu2OSeO3 with both narrow size distribution, and tailored dimensions approaching the nanoscale. Combining magnetometry and neutron scattering experiments with micromagnetic simulations, we show that the bulk phase diagram of Cu2OSeO3 changes dramatically below octahedral heights of 400 nm. Further particle size-dependent regimes are identified where various topological spin textures such as skyrmions, merons and bobbers can stabilize, prior to a lower critical octahedral height of approx. 190 nm below which no topological spin texture is found stable. These findings suggest conditions under which sparse topological spin textures confined to chiral magnet nanoparticles can be stable, and provide fresh potential for insulator-based application paradigms.

We present first principles calculations of the dynamic susceptibility in strained and doped ferromagnetic MnBi using time-dependent density functional theory. In spite of being a metal, MnBi exhibits signatures of strong correlation and a proper description in the framework of density functional theory requires Hubbard corrections to the Mn $d$-orbitals. To permit calculations of the dynamic susceptibility with Hubbard corrections applied to the ground state electronic structure, we use a consistent rescaling of the exchange-correlation kernel maintaining the delicate balance between the magnon dispersion and the Stoner continuum. We find excellent agreement with the experimentally observed magnon dispersion for pristine MnBi and show that the material undergoes a phase transition to helical order under application of either doping or strain. The presented methodology paves the way for future LR-TDDFT studies of magnetic phase transitions, also for the wide range of materials with pronounced static correlation effects that are not accounted for at the LDA level., 14 pages, v2

Quantum spin liquids are exotic states of matter that form when strongly frustrated magnetic interactions induce a highly entangled quantum paramagnet far below the energy scale of the magnetic interactions. Three-dimensional cases are especially challenging due to the significant reduction of the influence of quantum fluctuations. Here, we report the magnetic characterization of ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}({\mathrm{SO}}_{4}{)}_{3}$ forming a three-dimensional network of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+}$ spins. Using density functional theory calculations, we show that this network consists of two interconnected spin-1 trillium lattices. In the absence of a magnetic field, magnetization, specific heat, neutron scattering, and muon spin relaxation experiments demonstrate a highly correlated and dynamic state, coexisting with a peculiar, very small static component exhibiting a strongly renormalized moment. A magnetic field $B\ensuremath{\gtrsim}4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{T}$ diminishes the ordered component and drives the system into a pure quantum spin liquid state. This shows that a system of interconnected $S=1$ trillium lattices exhibits a significantly elevated level of geometrical frustration.

In this paper we study consequences of the results of Kang et al. [Monoidal categorification of cluster algebras, J. Amer. Math. Soc. 31 (2018), 349–426] on a monoidal categorification of the unipotent quantum coordinate ring $A_{q}(\mathfrak{n}(w))$ together with the Laurent phenomenon of cluster algebras. We show that if a simple module $S$ in the category ${\mathcal{C}}_{w}$ strongly commutes with all the cluster variables in a cluster $[\mathscr{C}]$, then $[S]$ is a cluster monomial in $[\mathscr{C}]$. If $S$ strongly commutes with cluster variables except for exactly one cluster variable $[M_{k}]$, then $[S]$ is either a cluster monomial in $[\mathscr{C}]$ or a cluster monomial in $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{k}([\mathscr{C}])$. We give a new proof of the fact that the upper global basis is a common triangular basis (in the sense of Qin [Triangular bases in quantum cluster algebras and monoidal categorification conjectures, Duke Math. 166 (2017), 2337–2442]) of the localization $\widetilde{A}_{q}(\mathfrak{n}(w))$ of $A_{q}(\mathfrak{n}(w))$ at the frozen variables. A characterization on the commutativity of a simple module $S$ with cluster variables in a cluster $[\mathscr{C}]$ is given in terms of the denominator vector of $[S]$ with respect to the cluster $[\mathscr{C}]$.

Evidence is presented for the enhanced photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) by AgxO/FeOx/ZnO nanotubes (NTs) compared to AgxO/ZnO nanotubes under low-intensity solar light irradiation. A higher amount of the local magnetic domains with random orientation in the AgxO/FeOx/ZnO NTs lead to a faster TC-degradation. Fe introduces intra-gap states in the ZnO NTs facilitating the e-transport under light. The AgxO/FeOx/ZnO nanotubes were observed to present predominantly semiconductor behavior during the light induced TC-degradation. The nature of the interaction between non-polarized photos with the local domains due the addition of Fe is discussed. By X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) redox reactions were observed on the nanotube surface NTs leading to the reactive oxygen radical species (ROS). The ROS-intermediates were identified by appropriate scavengers. Fast TC-degradation kinetics was attained by a catalyst with a composition AgOx(5.8%)FeOx(21.9%)ZnO (72.3%) as determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). A scheme for the interfacial charge transfer (IFCT) between the oxides on the nanotube surface is presented. Magnetized nanotubes present a practical potential in environmental cleaning avoiding the high cost separation of the catalyst from the reaction media at the end of the process

Quantum spin systems exhibit an enormous range of collective excitations, but their spin waves, gapped triplons, fractional spinons, or yet other modes are generally held to be mutually exclusive. Here we show by neutron spectroscopy on SeCuO$_3$ that magnons, triplons, and spinons are present simultaneously. We demonstrate that this is a consequence of a structure consisting of two coupled subsystems and identify all the interactions of a minimal magnetic model. Our results serve qualitatively to open the field of multi-excitation spin systems and quantitatively to constrain the complete theoretical description of one member of this class of materials., 8 pages, 5 figures

We investigate the spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg model on a rectangular lattice, using the Gutzwiller projected variational wave function known as the staggered flux state. Using Monte Carlo techniques, the variational parameters and instantaneous spin-spin correlation function for different coupling anisotropies $\ensuremath{\gamma}={J}_{y}/{J}_{x}$ are calculated. We observe a gradual evolution of the ground state energy towards a value which is very close to the one-dimensional (1D) estimate provided by the Bethe ansatz and a good agreement between the finite-size scaling of the energies. The spin-spin correlation functions exhibit a power-law decay with varying exponents for different anisotropies. Though the lack of N\'eel order makes the staggered flux state energetically unfavorable in the symmetric case $\ensuremath{\gamma}=1$, it appears to capture the essence of the system close to 1D. Hence we believe that the staggered flux state provides an interesting starting point to explore the crossover from quantum disordered chains to the N\'eel ordered two-dimensional square lattices.

Trigonal tellurium, a small-gap semiconductor with pronounced magneto-electric and magneto-optical responses, is among the simplest realizations of a chiral crystal. We have studied by spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy its unconventional electronic structure and unique spin texture. We identify Kramers-Weyl, composite, and accordionlike Weyl fermions, so far only predicted by theory, and show that the spin polarization is parallel to the wave vector along the lines in k space connecting high-symmetry points. Our results clarify the symmetries that enforce such spin texture in a chiral crystal, thus bringing new insight in the formation of a spin vectorial field more complex than the previously proposed hedgehog configuration. Our findings thus pave the way to a classification scheme for these exotic spin textures and their search in chiral crystals.

We report magnetic properties of a $3{d}^{9}$ $({\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+})$ magnetic insulator ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}{\mathrm{OSO}}_{4}$ measured on both powder and single crystal. The magnetic atoms of this compound form layers whose geometry can be described either as a system of chains coupled through dimers or as a kagome lattice where every third spin is replaced by a dimer. Specific heat and DC susceptibility show a magnetic transition at 20 K, which is also confirmed by neutron scattering. Magnetic entropy extracted from the specific heat data is consistent with an $S=1/2$ degree of freedom per ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}$, and so is the effective moment extracted from DC susceptibility. The ground state has been identified by means of neutron diffraction on both powder and single crystal and corresponds to an $\ensuremath{\sim}{120}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ spin structure in which ferromagnetic intradimer alignment results in a net ferrimagnetic moment. No evidence is found for a change in lattice symmetry down to 2 K. Our results suggest that ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}{\mathrm{OSO}}_{4}$ represents a type of model lattice with frustrated interactions where interplay between magnetic order, thermal and quantum fluctuations can be explored.

The discovery of multiple coexisting magnetic phases in the crystallographically homogeneous compound ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{3}{\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ has stimulated ongoing research activity. In recent years the main focus has been on the zero-field-state properties, where exceedingly long timescales have been established. In this study we report a detailed investigation of static and dynamic properties of ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{3}{\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ across the magnetic field induced transition around 3.5 T. This region has so far been practically neglected, while we argue that in some aspects it represents a simpler version of the transition across the $B=0$ state. Investigating the frequency dependence of the ac susceptibility, we reveal that on the high-field side ($Bg3.5$ T) the response corresponds to a relatively narrow distribution of magnetic clusters. The distribution appears very weakly dependent on magnetic field, with an associated energy barrier of around 200 K. Below 3.5 T a second contribution arises, with much smaller characteristic frequencies and a strong temperature and magnetic field dependence. We discuss these findings in the context of intrachain and interchain clustering of magnetic moments.

Magnetic skyrmions are vortex-like topological spin textures often observed in structurally chiral magnets with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Among them, Co-Zn-Mn alloys with a $\beta$-Mn-type chiral structure host skyrmions above room temperature. In this system, it has recently been found that skyrmions persist over a wide temperature and magnetic field region as a long-lived metastable state, and that the skyrmion lattice transforms from a triangular lattice to a square one. To obtain perspective on chiral magnetism in Co-Zn-Mn alloys and clarify how various properties related to the skyrmion vary with the composition, we performed systematic studies on Co$_{10}$Zn$_{10}$, Co$_9$Zn$_9$Mn$_2$, Co$_8$Zn$_8$Mn$_4$ and Co$_7$Zn$_7$Mn$_6$ in terms of magnetic susceptibility and small-angle neutron scattering measurements. The robust metastable skyrmions with extremely long lifetime are commonly observed in all the compounds. On the other hand, preferred orientation of a helimagnetic propagation vector and its temperature dependence dramatically change upon varying the Mn concentration. The robustness of the metastable skyrmions in these materials is attributed to topological nature of the skyrmions as affected by structural and magnetic disorder. Magnetocrystalline anisotropy as well as magnetic disorder due to the frustrated Mn spins play crucial roles in giving rise to the observed change in helical states and corresponding skyrmion lattice form., Comment: 70 pages, 19 figures

In condensed matter systems, the atoms, electrons or spins can sometimes arrange themselves in ways that result in unexpected properties but that cannot be detected by conventional experimental probes. Several historical and contemporary examples of such hidden orders are known and more are awaiting discovery, perhaps in the form of more complex composite, entangled or dynamical hidden orders., Comment: Author Accepted Manuscript

We use resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to investigate charge-stripe correlations in La_{1.675}Eu_{0.2}Sr_{0.125}CuO_{4}. By differentiating elastic from inelastic scattering, it is demonstrated that charge-stripe correlations precede both the structural low-temperature tetragonal phase and the transport-defined pseudogap onset. The scattering peak amplitude from charge stripes decays approximately as T^{-2} towards our detection limit. The in-plane integrated intensity, however, remains roughly temperature independent. Therefore, although the incommensurability shows a remarkably large increase at high temperature, our results are interpreted via a single scattering constituent. In fact, direct comparison to other stripe-ordered compounds (La_{1.875}Ba_{0.125}CuO_{4}, La_{1.475}Nd_{0.4}Sr_{0.125}CuO_{4}, and La_{1.875}Sr_{0.125}CuO_{4}) suggests a roughly constant integrated scattering intensity across all these compounds. Our results therefore provide a unifying picture for the charge-stripe ordering in La-based cuprates. As charge correlations in La_{1.675}Eu_{0.2}Sr_{0.125}CuO_{4} extend beyond the low-temperature tetragonal and pseudogap phase, their emergence heralds a spontaneous symmetry breaking in this compound.

In the three-dimensional (3D) Heisenberg model, topological point defects known as spin hedgehogs behave as emergent magnetic monopoles, i.e., quantized sources and sinks of gauge fields that couple strongly to conduction electrons, and cause unconventional transport responses such as the gigantic Hall effect. We observe a dramatic change in the Hall effect upon the transformation of a spin hedgehog crystal in a chiral magnet MnGe through combined measurements of magnetotransport and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). At low temperatures, well-defined SANS peaks and a negative Hall signal are each consistent with expectations for a static hedgehog lattice. In contrast, a positive Hall signal takes over when the hedgehog lattice fluctuates at higher temperatures, with a diffuse SANS signal observed upon decomposition of the hedgehog lattice. Our approach provides a simple way to both distinguish and disentangle the roles of static and dynamic emergent monopoles on the augmented Hall motion of conduction electrons.

We study the dynamics and interactions of the critical fluctuations of the Verwey transition in magnetite (${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$) in the pretransition region by means of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on a natural single crystal. We find that a ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{5}$ mode interacts strongly with a central peak of order parameter fluctuations, whose width is determined by the order parameter coherence time. This is compared with pump-probe experiments, which we formerly explained in terms of fluctuation-assisted stimulated Raman scattering. Our estimates of the order parameter correlation time from experiments in the energy domain (inelastic neutron scattering experiments) and in the time domain (pump-probe experiments) coincide, thus giving further credit to our previous interpretation of pump-probe experiments and confirming that the Verwey transition is of the order-disorder type, without phonon softening.

The phase transition most commonly observed is probably melting, a transition from ordered crystalline solids to disordered isotropic liquids. In three dimensions, melting is a single, first-order phase transition. In two-dimensional systems, however, theory predicts a general scenario of two continuous phase transitions separated by an intermediate, oriented liquid state, the so-called hexatic phase with short-range translational and quasi-long-range orientational orders. Such hexatic phases occur in colloidal systems, Wigner solids and liquid crystals, all composed of real-matter particles. In contrast, skyrmions are countable soliton configurations with non-trivial topology and these quasi-particles can form two-dimensional lattices. Here we show, by direct imaging with cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, that magnetic field variations can tune the phase of the skyrmion ensembles in Cu

High field magnetization measurements in pulsed fields up to 65 T have been performed on ${\mathrm{FePS}}_{3}$, which is nominally a good example of a two-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet on a honeycomb lattice. Measurements with the field parallel to the moment direction confirm the presence of two first-order transitions above 35 T, to $M/{M}_{\mathrm{sat}}=1/2$ and $M/{M}_{\mathrm{sat}}=1$, respectively, at 4 K. The measurements are in contradiction with published estimates for the magnetic exchange parameters, but the contradiction can be resolved by allowing for anisotropic exchange parameters in the Hamiltonian. The magnetization with the field perpendicular to the moment direction is anisotropic, with no transitions observed for fields along the a axis while a cascade of first-order transitions is observed for fields above 50 T along the b axis, the latter case also showing a strong degradation of the sample after repeated pulses. The results indicate a strong magnetolattice coupling in ${\mathrm{FePS}}_{3}$. Temperature-dependent measurements hint at a possible tricritical point.

While in 3D materials melting is a single, first-order phase transition, in 2D systems, it can also proceed via an intermediate phase. For a skyrmion lattice in Cu2OSeO3, magnetic field variations can tune this quasiparticle 2D solid into a skyrmion liquid via an intermediate hexatic phase with short-range translational and quasi-long-range orientational order. The phase transition most commonly observed is probably melting, a transition from ordered crystalline solids to disordered isotropic liquids. In three dimensions, melting is a single, first-order phase transition. In two-dimensional systems, however, theory predicts a general scenario of two continuous phase transitions separated by an intermediate, oriented liquid state, the so-called hexatic phase with short-range translational and quasi-long-range orientational orders. Such hexatic phases occur in colloidal systems, Wigner solids and liquid crystals, all composed of real-matter particles. In contrast, skyrmions are countable soliton configurations with non-trivial topology and these quasi-particles can form two-dimensional lattices. Here we show, by direct imaging with cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, that magnetic field variations can tune the phase of the skyrmion ensembles in Cu(2)OSeO(3)from a two-dimensional solid through the long-speculated skyrmion hexatic phase to a liquid. The local spin order persists throughout the process. Remarkably, our quantitative analysis demonstrates that the aforementioned topological-defect-induced crystal melting scenario well describes the observed phase transitions.

A new production process allows a direct bonding of HOPG crystals on Si wafers. This new method facilitates the production of analyzer crystals with support structure without the use of additional, background inducing fixation material, e.g. glue, wax and screws. This new method is especially interesting for the upcoming generation of CAMEA-type multiplexing spectrometers. These instruments allow for a drastic performance increase due to the increased angular coverage and multiple energy analysis. Exploiting the transparency of multiple HOPG for cold neutrons , a consecutive arrangement of HOPG analyzer crystals per Q-channel can be achieved. This implies that neutrons travel through up to 10 arrays of analyzer crystals before reaching the analyzer corresponding to their energy. Hence, a careful choice of the fixation method for the analyzer crystals in regards to transparency and background is necessary. Here, we present first results on the diffraction and mechanical performance of direct bonded analyzer crystals.