Density-functional-theory investigation of pressure induced semiconductor-metal transitions in the ferromagnetic semiconductor HgCr2Se4

We investigate the electronic structures of the ferromagnetic semiconductor HgCr(2)Se(4) by using a modified Becke and Johnson exchange potential. The energy gap calculated with the experimental lattice structure is in good agreement with the experimental value. When the pressure reaches 9.0 GPa, HgCr(2)Se(4) becomes a so-called spin gapless semiconductor due to the closure of the spin non-conservation energy gap, and when the pressure increases to 11.4 GPa, the spin conservation energy gap closes, leading to a semiconductor-semimetal transition.     

Room-temperature multiferroic properties of Bi4.15Nd0.85Ti3FeO15 thin films prepared by the metal–organic decomposition method

Aurivillius-structured Bi_4.15Nd_0.85Ti₃FeO₁₅ multiferroic thin films with four perovskite slabs were deposited on Pt/Ti/ SiO₂/Si substrates by the metal–organic decomposition method. The structural, dielectric and multiferroic properties of the films were investigated. Good ferroelectric behavior along with large dielectric constant and small loss factor were observed at room temperature. A weak ferromagnetic rather than an antiferromagnetic property was observed at room temperature by magnetic measurement. Moreover, the ferromagnetic property was enhanced when the temperature was below 13 K and a large saturation magnetization of about 5.4 emu/cm³ was obtained at 4 K. Possible reasons are put forward to discuss the complicated magnetic property.     

Magnetic anisotropy and low-frequency dielectric response of weak ferromagnetic phase in κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Cl, where BEDT-TTF is Bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene

We report a detailed characterization of the magnetism and AC transport in single crystals of the organic conductor -(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Cl by means of magnetic anisotropy measurements and low-frequency dielectric spectroscopy. Magnetic anisotropy obeys Curie-Weiss law with negative Curie-Weiss temperature in the temperature range 300 K-70 K. An antiferromagnetic transition with concomitant canted antiferromagnetic state is established at 22 K. A large hysteresis in the spin-flop transition and magnetic field reversal of the weak ferromagnetic magnetization are documented for the first time. A broad dielectric relaxation mode of moderate strength () emerges at 32 K, and weakens with temperature. The mean relaxation time, much larger than that expected for single-particle excitations, is thermally activated in a manner similar to the DC conductivity and saturates below 22 K. These features suggest the origin of the broad relaxation as an intrinsic property of the weak ferromagnetic ground state. We propose a charged domain wall in a random ferromagnetic domain structure as the relaxation entity. We argue that the observed features might be well described if Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction is taken into account. A Debye relaxation with similar temperature dependence was also observed and seems to be related to an additional ferromagnetic-like, most probably, field-induced phase. We tentatively associate this phase, whose tiny contribution was sample dependent, with a Cu²⁺ magnetic subsystem. Received 15 June 1998 and Received in final form 1 February 1999     

CeFePO: a heavy fermion metal with ferromagnetic correlations

The ground state properties of CeFePO, a homologue of the new high temperature superconductors RFePnO1-xFx, were studied by means of susceptibility, specific heat, resistivity, and NMR measurements on polycrystals. All the results demonstrate that this compound is a magnetically nonordered heavy fermion metal with a Kondo temperature TK approximately 10 K, a Sommerfeld coefficient gamma=700 mJ/mol K2, and a mass enhancement factor of the order of 50. Analysis of the susceptibility data and of the spin relaxation time indicates that the strong electronic correlation effects originate from the Ce-4f electrons rather than from Fe-3d electrons. An enhanced Sommerfeld-Wilson ratio R=5.5 as well as a Korringa product S0/T1TK2 approximately 0.065 well below 1 indicate the presence of ferromagnetic correlations. Therefore, CeFePO appears to be on the nonmagnetic side of a ferromagnetic instability.     

Chern semimetal and the quantized anomalous Hall effect in HgCr2Se4

In 3D momentum space, a topological phase boundary separating the Chern insulating layers from normal insulating layers may exist, where the gap must be closed, resulting in a "Chern semimetal" state with topologically unavoidable band crossings at the Fermi level. This state is a condensed-matter realization of Weyl fermions in (3+1)D, and should exhibit remarkable features, such as magnetic monopoles and Fermi arcs. Here we predict, based on first principles calculations, that such a novel quantum state can be realized in a known ferromagnetic compound HgCr2Se4, with a single pair of Weyl fermions separated in momentum space. The quantum Hall effect without an external magnetic field can be achieved in its quantum-well structure.     

The electrical conductivity of the strongly defective HgCr 2 Se 4 single crystals

The effect of vacancies on the electrical conductivity in HgCr 2 Se 4 spinels is considered. For this purpose the X-ray studies, the electrical conductivity and the thermopower measurements and the calculation of the vacancy model were used. The above investigations showed that: 1) the single crystals under study are p-type semiconductors, 2) the as grown and vacuum annealed single crystals exhibit Arrhenius plot of the electrical conductivity, 3) the copper doping single crystals reveal the jump of the electrical conductivity near Curie temperature, and 4) the strong defectiveness of the spinel structure makes the magnon excitations impossible below the Curie temperature.     

Spin glass behaviour and extrinsic origin of magnetodielectric effect in non-multiferroic La(2)NiMnO(6) nanoparticles

We report magnetization, dielectric and dc transport properties of La(2)NiMnO(6) nanoparticles. Both dc and ac magnetization measurements indicated a metastable magnetic behaviour with random ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions below 110 K; critical slow-down, memory and rejuvenation properties signify the spin glass nature. The dc resistivity shows a semiconducting nature but the temperature dependent magnetoresistance (MR) shows a peak at the spin glass transition. The colossal dielectric property and its frequency dependence were interpreted using the Maxwell-Wagner (MW) interfacial polarization model. Impedance analysis along with magnetodielectric (MD) and magnetoresistance (MR) indicates that the observed MD originates from the combined effect of MR and MW interfacial polarization.     

In-plane ferromagnetism in charge-ordering Na0.55CoO2

The magnetic and transport properties are systematically studied on the single crystal Na(0.55)CoO2 with the resistivity divergence below 50 K. A weak ferromagnetic ordering is observed in susceptibility below 20 K with the magnetic field parallel to the Co-O plane, while no such ferromagnetic ordering is observed with the field perpendicular to the Co-O plane. It gives evidence for the existence of in-plane ferromagnetism below 20 K. The observed magnetoresistance of 30% at the field of 6 T at low temperatures indicates an unexpectedly strong spin-charge coupling in the triangle lattice NaxCoO2 system.     

EuS/Ta异质结的极大磁电阻效应

在铁磁/超导异质结中,铁磁体的交换场通过近邻效应将导致超导体准粒子态密度的塞曼劈裂.基于该效应,在外磁场不强的情况下,通过外加磁场可以有效地调节铁磁/超导界面处的交换作用,从而实现超导体在正常态和超导态之间转换,产生极大磁电阻.本文利用脉冲激光沉积方法制备了EuS/Ta异质结并研究了其电磁特性.Ta在3.6 K以下为超...     

Spin, charge and lattice couplings in Cu-deficient oxysulphide BiOCu0.94S

The electrical and magnetic properties of slightly Cu-deficient BiOCu(0.94)S are investigated using neutron diffraction, ac magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements. The Cu spins order in a ferromagnetic arrangement below T(C) = 250 K. An antiferromagnetic component develops below 180 K when the crystalline unit cell experiences a sharp thermal contraction upon cooling, resulting in a canted ferromagnetic spin arrangement at low temperatures. In the magnetically ordered state the electrical transport can be described using three-dimensional variable range hopping conduction. An applied magnetic field can effectively reduce the hopping barrier. Spin-charge couplings are clearly revealed when the resistivity departs from the hopping conduction and begins to increase with increasing temperatures above 250 K where the Cu spins become disordered.     

Observation of relaxor ferroelectricity and multiferroic behaviour in nanoparticles of the ferromagnetic semiconductor La(2)NiMnO(6)

We report a diffuse phase transition (extending over a finite temperature range of ～50?K) in sol-gel derived nanoparticles (～25?nm) of the ferromagnetic double perovskite La(2)NiMnO(6). The macroscopic polarization (P-E hysteresis loop), validity of the Vogel-Fulcher relation and high dielectric permittivity (～9?×?10(2)) confirm relaxor ferroelectric phenomena in these magnetic nanoparticles. Compared to the corresponding bulk sample, appreciably large enhancement of the magnetocapacitive effect (MC ～?30%) is observed even under low magnetic field (0.5?T) around the broad relaxor dielectric peak temperature (～220?K), which is close to the ferromagnetic transition temperature (θ(f)?～?196?K). All of these features establish the multiferroic character of the La(2)NiMnO(6) nanoparticles. The inhomogeneities arising from chemical and valence mixing in the present La(2)NiMnO(6) nanoparticles and the inter-site, Ni/Mn-site disorder along with surface disorder of the individual nanoparticles resulting in local polar regions are attributed to the observed dielectric behaviour of the nanoparticles. The wave vector dependent spin-pair correlation is considered to be the plausible cause of the colossal magnetocapacitive response near the transition temperature. High permittivity and large magnetocapacitive properties make these ferromagnetic La(2)NiMnO(6) nanoparticles technologically important.     

Magnetoelectric coupling driven dielectric anomaly in non-polar system SeCuO3

The non-polar material SeCuO₃, which contains Cu²⁺ with S=1/2$S=1/2$ spin and Se⁴⁺, has a highly distorted perovskite structure due to the small radii of Se⁴⁺ cations. The dielectric constant displays a critical decrease at 25 K, at which temperature the ferromagnetic ordering of the Cu²⁺ spin appears, suggesting a strong coupling between the magnetic and dielectric properties. Studies on SeCuO₃ show that the magnetic and electrical subsystems reciprocally correlate via the hybridization of sp and pd. We conclude that the spin–pair correlation along the b-axis plays a significant role in the decrease of the dielectric constant around the magnetic transition temperature via the magnetoelectric coupling, and successfully explain the dielectric anomaly. The obtained dielectric constant and the magnetocapacitance for SeCuO₃ are quantitative agreement with experimental results.     

Ferromagnetic ordering in alkali-metal iron antimonides: NaFe4Sb12 and KFe4Sb12

New alkali-metal compounds with the filled-skutterudite structure were synthesized and their chemical and physical properties investigated. X-ray diffraction, microprobe, and chemical analysis established the structure and the composition without defects on the cation site. Magnetization, ac susceptibility, specific heat, resistivity, and NMR or NQR demonstrated NaFe4Sb12 to be ferromagnetic below approximately 85 K and to exhibit an additional magnetic anomaly around 40 K. Band structure calculations find a large density of states at the Fermi energy and a ferromagnetic ground state. Similar behavior was observed for KFe4Sb12.     

Large magnetostriction and negative thermal expansion in the frustrated antiferromagnet ZnCr2Se4

A detailed investigation of ZnCr2Se4 is presented which is dominated by strong ferromagnetic exchange but orders antiferromagnetically at TN=21 K. Specific heat and thermal expansion exhibit sharp first-order anomalies at the antiferromagnetic transition. TN is shifted to lower temperatures by external magnetic fields and finally is fully suppressed by a field of 65 kOe. The relative length change DeltaL/L(T) is unusually large and exhibits negative thermal expansion alpha below 75 K down to TN indicating strong frustration of the lattice. Magnetostriction DeltaL/L(H) reveals large values comparable to giant magnetostrictive materials. These results point to a spin-driven origin of the structural instability at TN explained in terms of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions.     

The nature of 4f electron magnetism in the diluted ferromagnetic Kondo lattice, CeIr2B2

We report on the physical properties of the series Ce(1-x)La(x)Ir(2)B(2) (x = 0-0.9), obtained by means of magnetization, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements as a function of temperature (down to 0.7 K for the latter two measurements). The Curie temperature of CeIr(2)B(2) (~5 K) is lowered due to La substitution, as expected. However, no quantum critical point or 'non-Fermi liquid' behavior was observed even in the dilute limit of x = 0.9. Interestingly, ferromagnetic ordering persists even for Ce(0.1)La(0.9)Ir(2)B(2), below 0.8 K. Among the Ce systems, CeIr(2)B(2) is one of the compounds in which direct 4f-4f interaction does not appear to play any role in the magnetism, which is controlled by the indirect exchange interaction alone. In this compound, the Kondo effect persists in the ferromagnetic ordered state, as inferred from the entropy data.     

Specific features of spin-variable properties of [Fe(acen)pic<Subscript>2</Subscript>]BPh<Subscript>4</Subscript> · <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The [Fe(acen)pic₂]BPh₄ · nH₂O compound has been synthesized and studied in the temperature interval of 5–300 K by the methods of EPR and magnetic susceptibility. The existence of ferromagnetic interactions between Fe(III) complexes in this compound has been revealed, in contrast to unhydrated [Fe(acen)pic₂]BPh₄. The reduction in the integrated intensity of the magnetic resonance signal as the temperature decreases below 80 K has been explained by the transition of high-spin ions to the low-spin state. It has been shown that the phase transition temperature in the presence of intermolecular (ferromagnetic) interactions is lower than that in the case of noninteracting centers.     

Polarization Mechanism in Filled Tungsten Bronze Ba_4Eu_2Ti_4Nb_6O_(30) with Pinched P-E Hysteresis Loops

Pinched P-E hysteresis loops have been observed in filled tungsten bronze Ba_4Eu_2Ti_4Nb_6O_(30),indicating the presence of novel polarization mechanisms.We investigate the evolution of polar order in filled tungsten bronze Ba_4Eu_2Ti_4Nb_6O_(30),together with its dielectric properties over a wide temperature range,from 50 K to 773 K.The temperature dependences of the dielectric properties exhibit two low-temperature dielectric relaxations,at around 300 K(P1),and 100 K(P2),and a high temperature peak at 588 K with no frequency dispersion,indicating the ferroelectric transition temperature T_c.Pinched P-E loops are observed in the temperature range between the low temperature relaxation at P1,and the ferroelectric transition.On cooling,the pinched P-E hysteresis loops open gradually,with increasing remnant polarization(Pr).Two pairs of reversal electric fields indicate two types of polar reversal mechanisms,with an activated energy of 1.41 eV(E_1),and 0.94 eV(E_2),respectively.One corresponds to the field-induced transition from a nonpolar to a polar state,which dominates at a high temperature close to T_c,while the other relates to the reversal of ferroelectric domains which stabilize gradually on cooling.At temperatures below 300 K,the polarization exhibits an evident decrease,probably related to the disruption of the polar order due to the dielectric relaxation at P1.     

Resonant Raman scattering of CdCr2Se4

The scattering cross section of the Raman-active phonons at 156 cm^?1 (Eg) and 169 cm^?1 (F2g) in the ferromagnetic semiconductor CdCr₂Se₄ (T_c=130 K) has been measured as a function of incident photon energy between 1.55 and 2.81 eV, both in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The resonance curve peaks sharply near 2 eV and shows a broadening for temperatures below the Curie point. The relative line intensities change significantly with photon energy. The results show that the concept of spin-dependent Raman scattering in the ferromagnetic spinels has to be revised in terms of exchange-splitting-induced resonant Raman scattering.     

An electron spin resonance study of Eu doping effect in La_(4/3)Sr_(5/3)Mn_2O_7 single crystal

The effect of Eu3+ion doping in the La sites of single-crystal La4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7was investigated. Electron spin resonance(ESR) was applied to La4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7and(La0.8Eu0.2)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7single crystals. A phase separation and phase transitions were observed from the ESR spectra data. Between 350 K and 300 K, both paramagnetic resonance(PMR)and anisotropic ferromagnetic resonance(FMR) lines were observed in the ab plane and the c axis direction, suggesting a coexistence of the paramagnetic(PM) phase and the ferromagnetic(FM) phase. The magnetization measurement reveals a spin-glass-like behavior in single-crystal(La0.8Eu0.2)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7below the temperature of spin freezing Tf(～ 29.5 K).     

Unconventional metallic magnetism in LaCrSb3

Neutron-diffraction measurements in LaCrSb3 show a coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic sublattices below T(C)=126 K, with ordered moments of 1.65(4) and 0.49(4)mu(B)/formula unit, respectively (T=10 K), and a spin-reorientation transition at approximately 95 K. No clear peak or step was observed in the specific heat at T(C). Coexisting localized and itinerant spins are suggested.