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Materials composed of spin-1 antiferromagnetic (AFM) chains are known to adopt complex ground states which are sensitive to the single-ion-anisotropy (SIA) energy ($D$), and intrachain ($J_{0}$) and interchain ($J'_{i}$) exchange energy scales. While theoretical and experimental studies have extended this model to include various other energy scales, the effect of the lack of a common SIA axis is not well explored. Here we investigate the magnetic properties of Ni(pyrimidine)(H$_{2}$O)$_{2}$(NO$_{3}$)$_{2}$, a chain compound where the tilting of Ni octahedra leads to a 2-fold alternation of the easy-axis directions along the chain. Muon-spin relaxation measurements indicate a transition to long-range order at $T_{\text{N}}=2.3$\,K and the magnetic structure is initially determined to be antiferromagnetic and collinear using elastic neutron diffraction experiments. Inelastic neutron scattering measurements were used to find $J_{0} = 5.107(7)$\,K, $D = 2.79(1)$\,K, $J'_{2}=0.18(3)$\,K and a rhombic anisotropy energy $E=0.19(9)$\,K. Mean-field modelling reveals that the ground state structure hosts spin canting of $\phi\approx6.5^{\circ}$, which is not detectable above the noise floor of the elastic neutron diffraction data. Monte-Carlo simulation of the powder-averaged magnetization, $M(H)$, is then used to confirm these Hamiltonian parameters, while single-crystal $M(H)$ simulations provide insight into features observed in the data., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures

We report on the thermodynamic and transport properties of the rare-earth Zintl compound Eu$_5$Sn$_2$As$_6$, which orders as a canted antiferromagnetic magnetic semiconductor at 10.3~K. The system also displays a complex cascade of magnetic phases arising from geometric and magnetic exchange frustration, with high sensitivity to the application and direction of small magnetic fields. At low temperature, Eu$_5$Sn$_2$As$_6$ exhibits negative colossal magnetoresistance of up to a factor of $6\times10^3$. This may be a lower bound as the conductivity appears to be shunted by an unknown conduction channel, causing the resistivity to saturate. Mechanisms for the low temperature saturation of resistivity are discussed., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures in main text, 5 appendices

We investigate the magnetic properties of $S=1$ antiferromagnetic diamond lattice, Ni$X_{2}$(pyrimidine)$_{2}$ ($X$ = Cl, Br), hosting a single-ion anisotropy (SIA) orientation which alternates between neighbouring sites. Through neutron diffraction measurements of the $X$ = Cl compound, the ordered state spins are found to align collinearly along a pseudo-easy-axis, a unique direction created by the intersection of two easy planes. Similarities in the magnetization, exhibiting spin-flop transitions, and the magnetic susceptibility in the two compounds imply that the same magnetic structure and a pseudo-easy-axis is also present for $X$ = Br. We estimate the Hamiltonian parameters by combining analytical calculations and Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations of the spin-flop and saturation field. The MC simulations also reveal that the spin-flop transition occurs when the applied field is parallel to the pseudo-easy-axis. Contrary to conventional easy-axis systems, there exist field directions perpendicular to the pseudo-easy-axis for which the magnetic saturation is approached asymptotically and no symmetry-breaking phase transition is observed at finite fields., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures

Rare-earth pyrochlore iridates host two interlocking magnetic sublattices of corner-sharing tetrahedra and can harbour a unique combination of frustrated moments, exotic excitations and highly correlated electrons. They are also the first systems predicted to display both topological Weyl semimetal and axion insulator phases. We have measured the transport and magnetotransport properties of single-crystal Sm$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ up to and beyond the pressure-induced quantum critical point for all-in-all-out (AIAO) Ir order at $p_{{\rm c}}$ = 63 kbar previously identified by resonant X-ray scattering and close to which Weyl semimetallic behavior has been previously predicted. Our findings overturn the accepted expectation that the suppression of AIAO order should lead to metallic conduction persisting down to zero temperature. Instead, the resistivity-minimum temperature, which tracks the decrease in the AIAO ordering temperature for pressures up to 30~kbar, begins to increase under further application of pressure, pointing to the presence of a second as-yet unidentified mechanism leading to non-metallic behavior. The magnetotransport does track the suppression of Ir magnetism, however, with a strong hysteresis observed only within the AIAO phase boundary, similar to that found for Ho$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ and attributed to plastic deformation of Ir domains. Around $p_{{\rm c}}$ we find the emergence of a new type of electronic phase, characterized by a negative magnetoresistance with small hysteresis at the lowest temperatures, and hysteresis-free positive magnetoresistance above approximately 5 K. The temperature dependence of our low-temperature transport data are found to be best described by a model consistent with a Weyl semimetal across the entire pressure range.

Electronic correlations associated with incipient magnetism have long been recognized as an important factor in stabilizing the largest atomic volume $\delta$ phase of plutonium, yet their strength compared to those in the rare earths and neighboring actinides in the Periodic Table has largely remained a mystery. We show here using calorimetry measurements, together with prior detailed measurements of the phonon dispersion, that the $5f$ electrons of the $\delta$ phase reside in a pseudogapped state, accompanied by reductions in various physical properties below a characteristic temperature $T^\ast\approx$~100~K. The small characteristic energy scale of the pseudogapped state implies that the $5f$ electrons in plutonium are much closer to the threshold for localization and magnetic order than has been suggested by state-of-the-art electronic structure theory, revealing plutonium to be arguably the most strongly correlated of the elements., Comment: 6 pages including 3 figure panels

CeOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$, a member of the skutterudite family, has an unusual semimetallic low-temperature $\cal{L}$-phase that inhabits a wedge-like area of the field $H$ - temperature $T$ phase diagram. We have conducted measurements of electrical transport and megahertz conductivity on CeOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ single crystals under pressures of up to 3 GPa and in high magnetic fields of up to 41 T to investigate the influence of pressure on the different $H$-$T$ phase boundaries. While the high-temperature valence transition between the metallic $\cal{H}$-phase and the $\cal{L}$-phase is shifted to higher $T$ by pressures of the order of 1 GPa, we observed only a marginal suppression of the $\cal{S}$-phase that is found below 1 K for pressures of up to 1.91 GPa. High-field quantum oscillations have been observed for pressures up to 3.0 GPa and the Fermi surface of the high-field side of the $\cal{H}$-phase is found to show a surprising decrease in size with increasing pressure, implying a change in electronic structure rather than a mere contraction of lattice parameters. We evaluate the field-dependence of the effective masses for different pressures and also reflect on the sample dependence of some of the properties of CeOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ which appears to be limited to the low-field region., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

Kondo insulators have recently aroused great interest because they are promising materials that host a topological insulator state caused by the strong electron interactions. Moreover, recent observations of the quantum oscillations in the insulating state of Kondo insulators have come as a great surprise. Here, to investigate the surface electronic state of a prototype Kondo insulator YbB$_{12}$, we measured transport properties of single crystals and microstructures. In all samples, the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity is insulating at high temperatures and the resistivity exhibits a plateau at low temperatures. The magnitude of the plateau value decreases with reducing sample thickness, which is quantitatively consistent with the surface electronic conduction in the bulk insulating YbB$_{12}$. Moreover, the magnetoresistance of the microstructures exhibits a weak-antilocalization effect at low field. These results are consistent with the presence of topologically protected surface state, suggesting that YbB$_{12}$ is a candidate material of the topological Kondo insulator. The high field resistivity measurements up to $\mu_0H$ = 50 T of the microstructures provide supporting evidence that the quantum oscillations of the resistivity in YbB$_{12}$ occurs in the insulating bulk., Comment: This is the version of the article before peer review or editing, as submitted by an author to Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at 10.1088/1361-6463/ac10d9

Using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy in pulsed magnetic fields up to 31 T, we measure the terahertz optical conductivity in an optimally-doped thin film of the high temperature superconducting cuprate La$_{1.84}$Sr$_{0.16}$CuO$_4$. We observe systematic changes in the circularly-polarized complex optical conductivity that are consistent with cyclotron absorption of p-type charge carriers characterized by a cyclotron mass of $4.9\pm 0.8$ $m_{\rm e}$, and a scattering rate that increases with magnetic field. These results open the door to studies aimed at characterizing the degree to which electron-electron interactions influence carrier masses in cuprate superconductors., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

We report on a comprehensive characterization of the newly synthesized Cu$^{2+}$-based molecular magnet [Cu(pz)$_2$(2-HOpy)$_2$](PF$_6$)$_2$ (CuPOF), where pz = C$_4$H$_4$N$_2$ and 2-HOpy = C$_5$H$_4$NHO. From a comparison of theoretical modeling to results of bulk magnetometry, specific heat, $\mu^+$SR, ESR, and NMR spectroscopy, this material is determined as an excellent realization of the 2D square-lattice $S=1/2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with a moderate intraplane nearest-neighbor exchange coupling of $J/k_\mathrm{B} = 6.80(5)$ K, and an extremely small interlayer interaction of about 1 mK. At zero field, the bulk magnetometry reveals a temperature-driven crossover of spin correlations from isotropic to $XY$ type, caused by the presence of a weak intrinsic easy-plane anisotropy. A transition to long-range order, driven by the low-temperature $XY$ anisotropy under the influence of the interlayer coupling, occurs at $T_\mathrm{N} = 1.38(2)$ K, as revealed by $\mu^+$SR. In applied magnetic fields, our $^1$H-NMR data reveal a strong increase of the magnetic anisotropy, manifested by a pronounced enhancement of the transition temperature to commensurate long-range order at $T_\mathrm{N} =2.8$ K and 7 T., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, as well as 10 pages and 18 figures of supplemental material

We present an investigation of the effect of randomizing exchange strengths in the $S=1/2$ square lattice quasi-two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet (QuinH)$_2$Cu(Cl$_{x}$Br$_{1-x}$)$_{4}\cdot$2H$_2$O (QuinH$=$Quinolinium, C$_9$H$_8$N$^+$), with $0\leq x \leq 1$. Pulsed-field magnetization measurements allow us to estimate an effective in-plane exchange strength $J$ in a regime where exchange fosters short-range order, while the temperature $T_{\mathrm{N}}$ at which long range order (LRO) occurs is found using muon-spin relaxation, allowing us to construct a phase diagram for the series. We evaluate the effectiveness of disorder in suppressing $T_{\mathrm{N}}$ and the ordered moment size and find an extended disordered phase in the region $0.4 \lesssim x \lesssim 0.8$ where no magnetic order occurs, driven by quantum effects of the exchange randomness., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

The phase diagram of the filled skutterudite CeOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ has been mapped in fields $H$ of up to 60 T and temperatures $T$ down to 0.5 K using resistivity, magnetostriction, and MHz conductivity. The valence transition separating the semimetallic, low-$H$, low-$T$, $\cal{L}$ phase from the metallic high-$H$, high-$T$ $\cal{H}$ phase exhibits a very unusual, wedge-shaped phase boundary, with a non-monotonic gradient alternating between positive and negative. This is quite different from the text-book "elliptical" phase boundary usually followed by valence transitions. Analysis of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations within the $\cal{H}$ phase reveals an effective mass that increases as $H$ drops toward the $\cal{H-L}$ phase boundary, suggesting proximity to a quantum-critical point. The associated magnetic fluctuations may be responsible for the anomalous $H,T$ dependence of the valence transition at high $H$, whereas the low$-H$, high$-T$ portion of the phase boundary may rather be associated with the proximity of CeOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ to a topological semimetal phase induced by uniaxial stress., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures and Supplementary Information of 4 pages, 2 figures

Quantum oscillations (QOs) in transport and thermodynamic parameters at high magnetic fields are an unambiguous signature of the Fermi surface, the defining characteristic of a metal. Therefore, recent observations of QOs in insulating SmB$_6$ and YbB$_{12}$, in particular the QOs of the resistivity $\rho_{xx}$ in YbB$_{12}$, have been a big surprise, pointing to the formation of a novel state of quantum matter. Despite the large charge gap inferred from the insulating behaviour of $\rho_{xx}$, these compounds seemingly host a Fermi surface at high magnetic fields. However, the nature of the ground state in zero field has been little explored. Here we report the use of low-temperature heat-transport measurements to discover gapless, itinerant, charge-neutral excitations in the ground state of YbB$_{12}$. At zero field, despite $\rho_{xx}$ being far larger than that of conventional metals, a sizable linear temperature dependent term in the thermal conductivity is clearly resolved in the zero-temperature limit ($\kappa_{xx}/T(T\rightarrow0)=\kappa_{xx}^0/T\neq0$). Such a residual $\kappa_{xx}^0/T$ term at zero field, which is absent in SmB$_6$, leads to a spectacular violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law: the Lorenz ratio $L=\kappa_{xx}\rho_{xx}/T$ is $10^{4}$-$10^{5}$ times larger than that expected in conventional metals. These data indicate that YbB$_{12}$ is a charge insulator but a thermal metal, suggesting the presence of itinerant neutral fermions. Remarkably, more insulating crystals with larger activation energies exhibit a larger amplitude of the resistive QOs as well as a larger $\kappa_{xx}^0/T$, in stark contrast to conventional metals. Moreover, we find that these fermions couple to magnetic field, despite their charge neutrality. Our findings expose novel gapless and highly itinerant, charge-neutral quasiparticles in this unconventional quantum state., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. This is the original submitted version. Final version is accepted for publication in Nature Physics

We present a study of the upper critical field, H$_{c2}$, of pristine and proton-irradiated RbEuFe$_4$As$_4$ crystals in pulsed magnetic fields of up to 65 T. The data for H$_{c2}$ reveal pronounced downwards curvature, particularly for the in-plane field orientation, and a superconducting anisotropy that decreases with decreasing temperature. These features are indicative of Pauli paramagnetic limiting. For the interpretation of these data, we use a model of a clean single-band superconductor with an open Fermi surface in the shape of a warped cylinder, which includes strong paramagnetic limiting. Fits to the data reveal that the in-plane upper critical field is Pauli paramagnetic limited, while the out-of-plane upper critical field is orbitally limited and that the orbital and paramagnetic fields have opposite anisotropies. A consequence of this particular combination is the unusual inversion of the anisotropy, $H_{c2}^{ab} < H_{c2}^c$, of the irradiated sample at temperatures below 10 K. The fits also yield an in-plane Maki parameter, $\alpha_M^{110} \approx$ 2.6, exceeding the critical value for the formation of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. Nevertheless, the current measurements did not reveal direct evidence for the occurrence of this state., Comment: 10 pages (including references), 7 figures

We investigate the low-temperature magnetic properties of the molecule-based chiral spin chain [Cu(pym)(H$_2$O)$_4$]SiF$_6\cdot$H$_2$O (pym = pyrimidine). Electron-spin resonance, magnetometry and heat capacity measurements reveal the presence of staggered $g$ tensors, a rich low-temperature excitation spectrum, a staggered susceptibility and a spin gap that opens on the application of a magnetic field. These phenomena are reminiscent of those previously observed in non-chiral staggered chains, which are explicable within the sine-Gordon quantum-field theory. In the present case, however, although the sine-Gordon model accounts well for the form of the temperature-dependence of the heat capacity, the size of the gap and its measured linear field dependence do not fit with the sine-Gordon theory as it stands. We propose that the differences arise due to additional terms in the Hamiltonian resulting from the chiral structure of [Cu(pym)(H$_2$O)$_4$]SiF$_6\cdot$H$_2$O, particularly a uniform Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya coupling and a four-fold periodic staggered field., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures and supplemental information

The layered honeycomb iridate $\alpha$-Li$_2$IrO$_3$ displays an incommensurate magnetic structure with counterrotating moments on nearest-neighbor sites, proposed to be stabilized by strongly-frustrated anisotropic Kitaev interactions between spin-orbit entangled Ir$^{4+}$ magnetic moments. Here we report powder inelastic neutron scattering measurements that observe sharply dispersive low-energy magnetic excitations centered at the magnetic ordering wavevector, attributed to Goldstone excitations of the incommensurate order, as well as an additional intense mode above a gap $\Delta\simeq2.3$ meV. Zero-field muon-spin relaxation measurements show clear oscillations in the muon polarization below the N\'{e}el temperature $T_{\rm N}\simeq15$ K with a time-dependent profile consistent with bulk incommensurate long-range magnetism. Pulsed field magnetization measurements observe that only about half the saturation magnetization value is reached at the maximum field of 64 T. A clear anomaly near 25 T indicates a transition to a phase with reduced susceptibility. The transition field has a Zeeman energy comparable to the zero-field gapped mode, suggesting gap suppression as a possible mechanism for the field-induced transition., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures

The Kondo-lattice compound CeRhIn$_5$ displays a field-induced Fermi surface reconstruction at $B^*\approx30$ T, which occurs within the antiferromagnetic state, prior to the quantum critical point at $B_{c0}\approx50$ T. Here, in order to investigate the nature of the Fermi surface change, we measured the magnetostriction, specific heat, and magnetic torque of CeRhIn$_5$ across a wide range of magnetic fields. Our observations uncover the field-induced itineracy of the $4f$ electrons, where above $B_{\rm onset}\approx17$ T there is a significant enhancement of the Sommerfeld coefficient, and spin-dependent effective cyclotron masses determined from quantum oscillations. Upon crossing $B_{\rm onset}$, the temperature dependence of the specific heat also shows distinctly different behavior from that at low fields. Our results indicate that the Kondo coupling is remarkably robust upon increasing the magnetic field. This is ascribed to the delocalization of the $4f$ electrons at the Fermi surface reconstruction at $B^*$., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

We present the magnetic and thermal properties of the bosonic-superfluid phase in a spin-dimer network using both quasistatic and rapidly-changing pulsed magnetic fields. The entropy derived from a heat-capacity study reveals that the pulsed-field measurements are strongly adiabatic in nature and are responsible for the onset of a significant magnetocaloric effect (MCE). In contrast to previous predictions we show that the MCE is not just confined to the critical regions, but occurs for all fields greater than zero at sufficiently low temperatures. We explain the MCE using a model of the thermal occupation of exchange-coupled dimer spin-states and highlight that failure to take this effect into account inevitably leads to incorrect interpretations of experimental results. In addition, the heat capacity in our material is suggestive of an extraordinary contribution from zero-point fluctuations and appears to indicate universal behavior with different critical exponents at the two field-induced critical points. The data are consistent with a two-dimensional nature of spin excitations in the system., Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures

We report electric polarization and magnetization measurements in single crystals of double perovskite Lu2MnCoO6 using pulsed magnetic fields and optical second harmonic generation (SHG) in DC magnetic fields. we observe well-resolved magnetic field-induced changes in the electric polarization in single crystals and thereby resolve the question about whether multiferroic behavior is intrinsic to these materials or an extrinsic feature of polycrystals. We find electric polarization along the crystalline b-axis, that is suppressed by applying a magnetic fields along c-axis and advance a model for the origin of magnetoelectric coupling. We furthermore map the phase diagram using both capacitance and electric polarization to identify regions of ordering and regions of magnetoelectric hysteresis. This compound is a rare example of coupled hysteretic behavior in the magnetic and electric properties. The ferromagnetic-like magnetic hysteresis loop that couples to hysteretic polarization can be attributed not to ordinary ferromagnetic domains, but to the rich physics of magnetic frustration of Ising-like spins in the axial next-nearest neighbor interaction model., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures

The layered honeycomb magnet alpha-RuCl3 has been proposed as a candidate to realize a Kitaev spin model with strongly frustrated, bond-dependent, anisotropic interactions between spin-orbit entangled jeff=1/2 Ru4+ magnetic moments. Here we report a detailed study of the three-dimensional crystal structure using x-ray diffraction on untwinned crystals combined with structural relaxation calculations. We consider several models for the stacking of honeycomb layers and find evidence for a crystal structure with a monoclinic unit cell corresponding to a stacking of layers with a unidirectional in-plane offset, with occasional in-plane sliding stacking faults, in contrast with the currently-assumed trigonal 3-layer stacking periodicity. We report electronic band structure calculations for the monoclinic structure, which find support for the applicability of the jeff=1/2 picture once spin orbit coupling and electron correlations are included. We propose that differences in the magnitude of anisotropic exchange along symmetry inequivalent bonds in the monoclinic cell could provide a natural mechanism to explain the spin gap observed in powder inelastic neutron scattering, in contrast to spin models based on the three-fold symmetric trigonal structure, which predict a gapless spectrum within linear spin wave theory. Our susceptibility measurements on both powders and stacked crystals, as well as neutron powder diffraction show a single magnetic transition at TN ~ 13K. The analysis of the neutron data provides evidence for zigzag magnetic order in the honeycomb layers with an antiferromagnetic stacking between layers. Magnetization measurements on stacked single crystals in pulsed field up to 60T show a single transition around 8T for in-plane fields followed by a gradual, asymptotic approach to magnetization saturation, as characteristic of strongly anisotropic exchange interactions., Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, published in Physical Review B

The magnetic ground state of two isostructural coordination polymers (i) the quasi two-dimensional S = 1/2 square-lattice antiferromagnet [Cu(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$; and (ii) a new compound [Co(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$, were examined with neutron powder diffraction measurements. We find the ordered moments of the Heisenberg S = 1/2 Cu(II) ions in [Cu(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$ are 0.6(1)$\mu_{B}$, whilst the ordered moments for the Co(II) ions in [Co(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$ are 3.02(6)$\mu_{B}$. For Cu(II), this reduced moment indicates the presence of quantum fluctuations below the ordering temperature. We show from heat capacity and electron spin resonance measurements, that due to the crystal electric field splitting of the S = 3/2 Co(II) ions in [Co(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$, this isostructual polymer also behaves as an effective spin-half magnet at low temperatures. The Co moments in [Co(HF$_{2}$)(pyrazine)$_{2}$]SbF$_{6}$ show strong easy-axis anisotropy, neutron diffraction data which do not support the presence of quantum fluctuations in the ground state and heat capacity data which are consistent with 2D or close to 3D spatial exchange anisotropy.

Conventional, thermally-driven continuous phase transitions are described by universal critical behaviour that is independent of the specific microscopic details of a material. However, many current studies focus on materials that exhibit quantum-driven continuous phase transitions (quantum critical points, or QCPs) at absolute zero temperature. The classification of such QCPs and the question of whether they show universal behaviour remain open issues. Here we report measurements of heat capacity and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations at low temperatures across a field-induced antiferromagnetic QCP (B$_{c0}\simeq$ 50 T) in the heavy-fermion metal CeRhIn$_5$. A sharp, magnetic-field-induced change in Fermi surface is detected both in the dHvA effect and Hall resistivity at B$_0^*\simeq$ 30 T, well inside the antiferromagnetic phase. Comparisons with band-structure calculations and properties of isostructural CeCoIn$_5$ suggest that the Fermi-surface change at B$_0^*$ is associated with a localized to itinerant transition of the Ce-4f electrons in CeRhIn$_5$. Taken in conjunction with pressure data, our results demonstrate that at least two distinct classes of QCP are observable in CeRhIn$_5$, a significant step towards the derivation of a universal phase diagram for QCPs., Comment: 30 pages, including Supporting Information. appears in PNAS, Early Edition published on January 5, 2015

The crystal structures of Ni$X_2$(pyz)$_2$ ($X$ = Cl (\textbf{1}), Br (\textbf{2}), I (\textbf{3}) and NCS (\textbf{4})) were determined at 298~K by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. All four compounds consist of two-dimensional (2D) square arrays self-assembled from octahedral NiN$_4$$X_2$ units that are bridged by pyz ligands. The 2D layered motifs displayed by \textbf{1}-\textbf{4} are relevant to bifluoride-bridged [Ni(HF$_2$)(pyz)$_2$]$Z$F$_6$ ($Z$ = P, Sb) which also possess the same 2D layers. In contrast, terminal $X$ ligands occupy axial positions in \textbf{1}-\textbf{4} and cause a staggering of adjacent layers. Long-range antiferromagnetic order occurs below 1.5 (Cl), 1.9 (Br and NCS) and 2.5~K (I) as determined by heat capacity and muon-spin relaxation. The single-ion anisotropy and $g$ factor of \textbf{2}, \textbf{3} and \textbf{4} are measured by electron spin resonance where no zero--field splitting was found. The magnetism of \textbf{1}-\textbf{4} crosses a spectrum from quasi-two-dimensional to three-dimensional antiferromagnetism. An excellent agreement was found between the pulsed-field magnetization, magnetic susceptibility and $T_\textrm{N}$ of \textbf{2} and \textbf{4}. Magnetization curves for \textbf{2} and \textbf{4} calculated by quantum Monte Carlo simulation also show excellent agreement with the pulsed-field data. \textbf{3} is characterized as a three-dimensional antiferromagnet with the interlayer interaction ($J_\perp$) slightly stronger than the interaction within the two-dimensional [Ni(pyz)$_2$]$^{2+}$ square planes ($J_\textrm{pyz}$)., Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures

Strong evidence for charge-density correlation in the underdoped phase of the cuprate YBa2Cu3Oy was obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and resonant x-ray scatter- ing. The fluctuations were found to be enhanced in strong magnetic fields. Recently, 3D (three dimensional) charge-density wave (CDW) formation with long-range order (LRO) was observed by x-ray diffraction in H >15 T. To elucidate how the CDW transition impacts the pair condensate, we have used torque magnetization to 45 T and thermal conductivity $\kappa_{xx}$ to construct the magnetic phase diagram in untwinned crystals with hole density p = 0.11. We show that the 3D CDW transitions appear as sharp features in the susceptibility and $\kappa_{xx}$ at the fields HK and Hp, which define phase boundaries in agreement with spectroscopic techniques. From measurements of the melting field Hm(T) of the vortex solid, we obtain evidence for two vortex solid states below 8 K. At 0.5 K, the pair condensate appears to adjust to the 3D CDW by a sharp transition at 24 T between two vortex solids with very different shear moduli. At even higher H (42 T) the second vortex solid melts to a vortex liquid which survives to fields well above 45 T. de Haas-van Alphen oscillations appear at fields 24-28 T, below the lower bound for the upper critical field Hc2., Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures; New version of previous posting, reporting torque measurements to 45 Tesla and final magnetic phase diagram

We investigate the structural and magnetic properties of two molecule-based magnets synthesized from the same starting components. Their different structural motifs promote contrasting exchange pathways and consequently lead to markedly different magnetic ground states. Through examination of their structural and magnetic properties we show that [Cu(pyz)(H$_{2}$O)(gly)$_{2}$](ClO$_{4}$)$_{2}$ may be considered a quasi-one-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet while the related compound [Cu(pyz)(gly)](ClO$_{4}$), which is formed from dimers of antiferromagnetically interacting Cu$^{2+}$ spins, remains disordered down to at least 0.03 K in zero field, but shows a field-temperature phase diagram reminiscent of that seen in materials showing a Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, supplemental information (6 pages, 2 figures) also included

We report measurements of magnetic quantum oscillations and specific heat at low temperatures across a field-induced antiferromagnetic quantum critical point (QCP)(B_{c0}\approx50T) of the heavy-fermion metal CeRhIn_5. A sharp magnetic-field induced Fermi surface reconstruction is observed inside the antiferromagnetic phase. Our results demonstrate multiple classes of QCPs in the field-pressure phase diagram of this heavy-fermion metal, pointing to a universal description of QCPs. They also suggest that robust superconductivity is promoted by unconventional quantum criticality of a fluctuating Fermi surface., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

We present a new member of the multiferroic oxides, Lu$_2$MnCoO$_6$, which we have investigated using X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, specific heat, magnetization, electric polarization, and dielectric constant measurements. This material possesses an electric polarization strongly coupled to a net magnetization below 35 K, despite the antiferromagnetic ordering of the $S = 3/2$ Mn$^{4+}$ and Co$^{2+}$ spins in an $\uparrow \uparrow \downarrow \downarrow$ configuration along the c-direction. We discuss the magnetic order in terms of a condensation of domain boundaries between $\uparrow \uparrow$ and $\downarrow \downarrow$ ferromagnetic domains, with each domain boundary producing a net electric polarization due to spatial inversion symmetry breaking. In an applied magnetic field the domain boundaries slide, controlling the size of the net magnetization, electric polarization, and magnetoelectric coupling.

Variant approaches, either based on the Fermi surface nesting or started from the proximity to a Mott-insulator, were proposed to elucidate the physics in iron pnictides, but no consensus has been reached. A fundamental problem concerns the nature of their 3d electrons. Here we report the magnetoresistivity (\rho_xx) and the Hall resistivity (\rho_xy) of Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (x=0 and 0.05) in a magnetic field of up to 55T. The magnetic transition is extremely robust against magnetic field, giving strong evidence that the magnetic ordering is formed by local moments. The magnetic state is featured with a huge magnetoresistance and a distinguished Hall resistivity, \rho_xy(H), which shows a pronounced parabolic field dependence, while the paramagnetic state shows little magnetoresistance and follows a simple linear magnetic field dependence on the Hall resistivity. Analyses of our data, based on a two-carrier model, demonstrate that the electron carriers in the magnetic state rapidly increase upon applying a magnetic field, partially compensating the loss of electron carriers at T_M. We argue that the 3d-electrons in Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 are divided into those who are close to forming localized moments controlling the magnetic transition and the others giving rise to complex transport properties through their interaction with the former., Comment: 4 figures

The magnetic penetration depth $\lambda (T)$ and the upper critical field $% \mu_{0}H_{c2}(T_{c})$ of the non-centrosymmetric (NCS) superconductor Y$_{2} $C$_{3}$ have been measured using a tunnel-diode (TDO) based resonant oscillation technique. We found that the penetration depth $\lambda (T)$ and its corresponding superfluid density $\rho_{s}(T)$ show linear temperature dependence at very low temperatures ($T\ll T_{c}$), indicating the existence of line nodes in the superconducting energy gap. Moreover, the upper critical field $\mu_{0}H_{c2}(T_{c})$ presents an upturn at low temperatures with a rather high value of $\mu_{0}H_{c2}(0)$ $\simeq 29$T, which slightly exceeds the weak-coupling Pauli limit. We discuss the possible origins for these nontrivial superconducting properties, and argue that the nodal gap structure in Y$_{2}$C$_{3}$ is likely attributed to the absence of inversion symmetry, which allows the admixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing states., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

The longitudinal electrical resistivity and the transverse Hall resistivity of CeFeAsO are simultaneously measured up to a magnetic field of 45T using the facilities of pulsed magnetic field at Los Alamos. Distinct behaviour is observed in both the magnetoresistance Rxx({\mu}0H) and the Hall resistance Rxy({\mu}0H) while crossing the structural phase transition at Ts \approx 150K. At temperatures above Ts, little magnetoresistance is observed and the Hall resistivity follows linear field dependence. Upon cooling down the system below Ts, large magnetoresistance develops and the Hall resistivity deviates from the linear field dependence. Furthermore, we found that the transition at Ts is extremely robust against the external magnetic field. We argue that the magnetic state in CeFeAsO is unlikely a conventional type of spin-density-wave (SDW)., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures SCES2010, To appear in J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. for SCES2010

We determine the upper critical field $\mu_0 H_{c2}(T_c)$ of non-centrosymmetric superconductor $Y_2 C_3$ using two distinct methods: the bulk magnetization M(T) and the tunnel-diode oscillator (TDO) based impedance measurements. It is found that the upper critical field reaches a value of 30T at zero temperature which is above the weak-coupling Pauli paramagnetic limit. We argue that the observation of such a large $\mu_0 H_{c2}(0)$ in $Y_2 C_3$ could be attributed to the admixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing states as a result of broken inversion symmetry., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted by J. Phys. Chem. Solids

We have determined the resistive upper critical field Hc2 for single crystals of the superconductor Fe1.11Te0.6Se0.4 using pulsed magnetic fields of up to 60T. A rather high zero-temperature upper critical field of mu0Hc2(0) approx 47T is obtained, in spite of the relatively low superconducting transition temperature (Tc approx 14K). Moreover, Hc2 follows an unusual temperature dependence, becoming almost independent of the magnetic field orientation as the temperature T=0. We suggest that the isotropic superconductivity in Fe1.11Te0.6Se0.4 is a consequence of its three-dimensional Fermi-surface topology. An analogous result was obtained for (Ba,K)Fe2As2, indicating that all layered iron-based superconductors exhibit generic behavior that is significantly different from that of the high-Tc cuprates., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submit to PRL

The observed spectra of 9 pulsars for which multiwavelength data are available from radio to $X$- or $\gamma$-ray bands (Crab, Vela, Geminga, B0656+14, B1055-52, B1509-58, B1706-44, B1929+10, and B1951+32) are compared with the spectrum of the radiation generated by an extended polarization current whose distribution pattern rotates faster than light {\it in vacuo}. It is shown that by inferring the values of two free parameters from observational data (values that are consistent with those of plasma frequency and electron cyclotron frequency in a conventional pulsar magnetosphere), and by adjusting the spectral indices of the power laws describing the source spectrum in various frequency bands, one can account {\em quantitatively} for the entire spectrum of each pulsar in terms of a single emission process. This emission process (a generalization of the synchrotron-\'Cerenkov process to a volume-distributed source in vacuum) gives rise to an oscillatory radiation spectrum. Thus, the bell-shaped peaks of pulsar spectra in the ultraviolet or $X$-ray bands (the features that are normally interpreted as manifestations of thermal radiation) appear in the present model as higher-frequency maxima of the same oscillations that constitute the emission bands observed in the radio spectrum of the Crab pulsar. Likewise, the sudden steepening of the gradient of the spectrum by -1, which occurs around $10^{18}-10^{21}$ Hz, appears as a universal feature of the pulsar emission: a feature that reflects the transit of the position of the observer across the frequency-dependent Rayleigh distance. Inferred values of the free parameters of the present model suggest, moreover, that the lower the rotation frequency of a pulsar, the more weighted towards higher frequencies will be its observed spectral intensity.

We report unexpected behaviour in a family of Cu spin- 1/2 systems, in which an apparent gap in the low energy magneto-optical absorption spectrum opens at low temperature. This previously unreported collective phenomenon arises at temperatures where the energy of the dominant exchange interaction exceeds the thermal energy. Simulations of the observed shifts in electron paramagnetic resonance spectral weight, which include spin anisotropy, reproduce this behavior yielding the magnitude of the spin anisotropy in these compounds., Comment: 4 pages (slightly run over) 4 figures

Superconductivity was recently observed in the iron-arsenic-based compounds with a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) as high as 56K [1-7], naturally raising comparisons with the high Tc copper oxides. The copper oxides have layered crystal structures with quasi-two-dimensional electronic properties, which led to speculations that reduced dimensionality (that is, extreme anisotropy) is a necessary prerequisite for superconductivity at temperatures above 40 K [8,9]. Early work on the iron-arsenic compounds seemed to support this view [7,10]. Here we report measurements of the electrical resistivity in single crystals of (Ba,K)Fe2As2 in a magnetic field up to 60 T. We find that the superconducting properties are in fact quite isotropic, being rather independent of the direction of the applied magnetic fields at low temperature. Such behaviour is strikingly different from all previously-known layered superconductors [9,11], and indicates that reduced dimensionality in these compounds is not a prerequisite for high-temperature superconductivity. We suggest that this situation arises because of the underlying electronic structure of the iron-arsenide compounds, which appears to be much more three dimensional than that of the copper oxides. Extrapolations of low-field single-crystal data incorrectly suggest a high anisotropy and a greatly exaggerated zero-temperature upper critical field., Comment: To appear in Nature

Although the isotope effect in superconducting materials is well-documented, changes in the magnetic properties of antiferromagnets due to isotopic substitution are seldom discussed and remain poorly understood. This is perhaps surprising given the possible link between the quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) antiferromagnetic and superconducting phases of the layered cuprates. Here we report the experimental observation of shifts in the N\'{e}el temperature and critical magnetic fields ($\Delta T_{\rm N}/T_{\rm N}\approx 4%$; $\Delta B_{\rm c}/B_{\rm c}\approx 4%$) in a Q2D organic molecular antiferromagnets on substitution of hydrogen for deuterium. These compounds are characterized by strong hydrogen bonds through which the dominant superexchange is mediated. We evaluate how the in-plane and inter-plane exchange energies evolve as the hydrogens on different ligands are substituted, and suggest a possible mechanism for this effect in terms of the relative exchange efficiency of hydrogen and deuterium bonds.

We show that the proportionately spaced emission bands in the dynamic spectrum of the Crab pulsar (Hankins T. H. & Eilek J. A., 2007, ApJ, 670, 693) fit the oscillations of the square of a Bessel function whose argument exceeds its order. This function has already been encountered in the analysis of the emission from a polarization current with a superluminal distribution pattern: a current whose distribution pattern rotates (with an angular frequency $\omega$) and oscillates (with a frequency $\Omega>\omega$ differing from an integral multiple of $\omega$) at the same time (Ardavan H., Ardavan A. & Singleton J., 2003, J Opt Soc Am A, 20, 2137). Using the results of our earlier analysis, we find that the dependence on frequency of the spacing and width of the observed emission bands can be quantitatively accounted for by an appropriate choice of the value of the single free parameter $\Omega/\omega$. In addition, the value of this parameter, thus implied by Hankins & Eilek's data, places the last peak in the amplitude of the oscillating Bessel function in question at a frequency ($\sim\Omega^3/\omega^2$) that agrees with the position of the observed ultraviolet peak in the spectrum of the Crab pulsar. We also show how the suppression of the emission bands by the interference of the contributions from differring polarizations can account for the differences in the time and frequency signatures of the interpulse and the main pulse in the Crab pulsar. Finally, we put the emission bands in the context of the observed continuum spectrum of the Crab pulsar by fitting this broadband spectrum (over 16 orders of magnitude of frequency) with that generated by an electric current with a superluminally rotating distribution pattern.

Pulsed-field magnetization experiments (fields $B$ of up to 85 T and temperatures $T$ down to 0.4 K) are reported on nine organic Cu-based two-dimensional (2D) Heisenberg magnets. All compounds show a low-$T$ magnetization that is concave as a function of $B$, with a sharp ``elbow'' transition to a constant value at a field $B_{\rm c}$. Monte-Carlo simulations including a finite interlayer exchange energy $J_{\perp}$ quantitatively reproduce the data; the concavity indicates the effective dimensionality and $B_{\rm c}$ is an accurate measure of the in-plane exchange energy $J$. Using these values and Ne\'el temperatures measured by muon-spin rotation, it is also possible to obtain a quantitative estimate of $|J_{\perp}/J|$. In the light of these results, it is suggested that in magnets of the form [Cu(HF$_2$)(pyz)$_2$]X, where X is an anion, the sizes of $J$ and $J_{\perp}$ are controlled by the tilting of the pyrazine (pyz) molecule with respect to the 2D planes.

We have employed a new route to synthesize single phase F-doped LaOFeAs compound and confirmed the superconductivity above 20 K in this Fe-based system. We show that the new superconductor has a rather high upper critical field of about 54 T. A clear signature of superconducting gap opening below T$_c$ was observed in the far-infrared reflectance spectra, with 2$\Delta/\textit{k}T_c\approx$3.5-4.2. Furthermore, we show that the new superconductor has electron-type conducting carrier with a rather low carrier density., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett. (accepted)

We report the observation of quantum oscillations in the underdoped cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu4O8 using a tunnel-diode oscillator technique in pulsed magnetic fields up to 85T. There is a clear signal, periodic in inverse field, with frequency 660+/-15T and possible evidence for the presence of two components of slightly different frequency. The quasiparticle mass is m*=3.0+/-0.3m_e. In conjunction with the results of Doiron-Leyraud et al. for YBa2Cu3O6.5, the present measurements suggest that Fermi surface pockets are a general feature of underdoped copper oxide planes and provide information about the doping dependence of the Fermi surface., Comment: Contains revisions addressing referees' comments including a different Fig 1b. 4 pages, 4 figures