Engineering topics

Büchner, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Büchner, B..

4 records

DOE OSTI2020

Momentum dependent $d_{xz/yz}$ band splitting in LaFeAsO

The nematic phase in iron based superconductors (IBSs) has attracted attention with a notion that it may provide important clue to the superconductivity. A series of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies were performed to understand the origin of the nematic phase. However, there is lack of ARPES study on LaFeAsO nematic phase. Here, we report the results of ARPES studies of the nematic phase in LaFeAsO. Degeneracy breaking between the d xz and d yz hole bands near the Γ and M point is observed in the nematic phase. Different temperature dependent band splitting behaviors are observed at the Γ and M points. The energy of the band splitting near the M point decreases as the temperature decreases while it has little temperature dependence near the Γ point. The nematic nature of the band shift near the M point is confirmed through a detwin experiment using a piezo device. Since a momentum dependent splitting behavior has been observed in other iron based superconductors, our observation confirms that the behavior is a universal one among iron based superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2020

Nematic superconductivity in LiFeAs

The role of nematic order for the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity is highly debated. In most iron-based superconductors (IBSs) the tetragonal symmetry is broken already in the normal state, resulting in orthorhombic lattice distortions, static stripe magnetic order, or both. Superconductivity then emerges, at least at weak doping, already from the state with broken C 4 rotational symmetry. One of the few stoichiometric IBSs, lithium iron arsenide superconducts below 18 K and does not display either structural or magnetic transition in the normal state. Here we demonstrate, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, that even the superconducting state in LiFeAs is also a nematic one. We observe spontaneous breaking of the rotational symmetry in the gap amplitude on all Fermi surfaces, as well as unidirectional distortion of the Fermi pockets. Remarkably, these deformations are hardly visible above superconducting T c . Our results demonstrate the realization of the phenomenon of superconductivity-induced nematicity in IBSs, emphasizing the intimate relation between them. Furthermore, we suggest a theoretical explanation based on the emergence of a secondary instability inside the superconducting state, which leads to the nematic order and s–d mixing in the gap function.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Field-induced transitions in the Kitaev material α - RuCl 3 probed by thermal expansion and magnetostriction

High-resolution thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements were performed on single crystals of α - RuCl 3 in magnetic fields applied parallel to the Ru-Ru bonds. The length changes were measured in the direction perpendicular to the honeycomb planes. Here, our data show clear thermodynamic characteristics for the field-induced phase transition at the critical field μ 0 H c 1 = 7.8 ( 2 ) T where the antiferromagnetic zigzag order is suppressed. At higher fields, a kink in the magnetostriction coefficient signals an additional transition or crossover around μ 0 H c 2 ≈ 11 T . The extracted Grüneisen ratio shows typical hallmarks for quantum criticality near H c 1 but also displays anomalous behavior above H c 1 . We compare our experimental data with spin-wave calculations employing a minimal Kitaev-Heisenberg model in the semiclassical limit. Most of the salient features are in agreement with each other, however, the peculiar features in the region above H c 1 cannot be accounted for in our semiclassical modeling and hence suggest a genuine quantum nature. We construct a phase diagram for α - RuCl 3 in a magnetic field along the Ru-Ru bonds, displaying a zigzag ordered state below H c 1 , a quantum paramagnetic regime between H c 1 and H c 2 , and a semiclassical partially polarized state above H c 2 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2020

Complex magnetic properties in the mixed 4 f - 5 d double perovskite iridates X 2 ZnIrO 6 ( X = Nd , Sm , Eu , Gd )

Here in this paper, we report on the synthesis and magnetic properties of a series of double perovskites Ln 2 ZnIrO 6 with Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd. These compounds present examples of the rare case of double perovskites (general formula A 2 BB'O6) with a magnetic 4ƒ-ion on the A site in combination with the strongly spin-orbit coupled 5d transition-metal ion Ir 4+ on the B sublattice. We discuss the impact of different rare earths on the macroscopic magnetic properties. Gd 2 ZnIrO 6 and Eu 2 ZnIrO 6 show ferrimagnetic or canted antiferromagnetic order below T N = 23 and 12 K, respectively. Sm 2 ZnIrO 6 orders antiferromagnetically at T N = 13 K. Nd 2 ZnIrO 6 exhibits more complex magnetic properties with a strong field dependence ranging from a two-step spin reorientation at μ 0 H = 0.01 T to an antiferromagnetic ground state at intermediate external fields to a spin-flop phase for 0H ≥ 4 T. This unique behavior suggests an interesting interplay between Nd 3+ and Ir 4+ . To further shed light on the relevant magnetic interaction, the zero-field magnetic ground state of Nd 2 ZnIrO 6 is examined via neutron powder diffraction. In general, the magnetic properties of Ln 2 ZnIrO 6 hint towards a substantial contribution of the rare-earth ions and a significant correlation between 5d and 4ƒ magnetism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗