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Zhou, Haidong

Publications and source records attributed to Zhou, Haidong.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Anomalous proximitized transport in metal/quantum magnet heterostructure Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 /Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7

Fluctuations of quantum spins play a crucial role in the emergence of exotic magnetic phases and excitations. The lack of the charge degree of freedom in insulating quantum magnets, however, precludes such fluctuations from mediating electronic transport. Here, we show that the quantum fluctuations of a localized frustrated magnet induce strong proximitized charge transport of the conduction electrons in a synthetic heterostructure comprising an epitaxial Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 ultrathin film on a single crystal of Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 . The proximity effects are evidenced by the scaling behavior of the Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 resistance in correspondence with the dynamic scaling of the dynamic spincorrelation function of Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 , which is a result of quantum fluctuations near a multiphase quantum critical point. The proximitized transport in Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 can be effectively tuned by a magnetic field through suppressing the quantum spin fluctuations (QSFs) as well as inducing transitions via magnetic anisotropy in Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 . In this study, we establish a pathway for harnessing QSFs in magnetic insulators with electric transport, offering exciting prospects for potential applications in the realm of quantum spintronics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Out-of-plane magnetic phase diagram of the Kitaev quantum magnet Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6

We have investigated the magnetic properties and mapped out the phase diagram of the honeycomb magnet Na 2⁢ Co 2 ⁢TeO 6 with Co 3d 7 in out-of-plane magnetic fields. This material has previously been proposed to show nearest-neighbor Kitaev interactions between Co spins and maybe even Kitaev quantum spin liquid behavior in high fields. At 0.01 T, we observe a thermal phase transition at T N = 27K, transitioning from a paramagnetic state to a canonical ferrimagnetic state. Upon increasing the magnetic field, a spin-floplike phase transition occurred before saturation of J = 1/2 between 10 K and T N . Below 10 K, a peak-dip-peak structure emerges between 10 and 17 T in the magnetic susceptibility (d⁢M/⁢dH) before the magnetic saturation, reminiscent of magnetization plateau behavior. The measurement of the magnetocaloric effect also shows dip-peak-dip behavior in this field range. Our data can be explained by an XXZ model with a single ion anisotropy and possibly small Kitaev and Γ exchange interactions. Finally, we also determined the magnetization saturation field that helps constrain the energy scale of the exchange interactions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Static magnetic order with strong quantum fluctuations in spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6

Kitaev interactions, arising from the interplay of frustration and bond anisotropy, can lead to strong quantum fluctuations and, in an ideal case, to a quantum-spin-liquid state. However, in many nonideal materials, spurious non-Kitaev interactions typically promote a zigzag antiferromagnetic order in the d-orbital transition-metal compounds. Here, by combining neutron scattering with muon-spin rotation and relaxation techniques, we provide mechanism insights into the exotic properties of Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6 , a candidate material of the Kitaev model. Below T N , the zero-field muon-spin relaxation rate becomes almost constant (~0.45 μs –1 ). We attribute this temperature-independent relaxation rate to the strong quantum fluctuations, as well as to the frustrated Kitaev interactions. As the magnetic field increases, neutron scattering data indicate a broader spin-wave excitation at the K-point. Therefore, quantum fluctuations seem not only robust but are even enhanced by the applied magnetic field. Our findings provide valuable hints for understanding the onset of the quantum-spin-liquid state in Kitaev materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evidence for field induced quantum spin liquid behavior in a spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet

One of the most important issues in modern condensed matter physics is the realization of fractionalized excitations, such as the Majorana excitations in the Kitaev quantum spin liquid. To this aim, the 3d-based Kitaev material Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6 is a promising candidate whose magnetic phase diagram of B // a* contains a field-induced intermediate magnetically disordered phase within 7.5 T < |B| < 10 T. The experimental observations, including the restoration of the crystalline point group symmetry in the angle-dependent torque and the coexisting magnon excitations and spinon-continuum in the inelastic neutron scattering spectrum, provide strong evidence that this disordered phase is a field induced quantum spin liquid with partially polarized spins. Our variational Monte Carlo simulation with the effective K-J 1 -Γ-Γ'-J 3 model reproduces the experimental data and further supports this conclusion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Revisiting spin ice physics in the ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore Pr 2 Sn 2 O 7

Pyrochlore materials are characterized by their hallmark network of corner-sharing rare-earth tetrahedra, which can produce a wide array of complex magnetic ground states. Ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlores often obey the “two-in-two-out” spin ice rules, which can lead to a highly degenerate spin structure. Large moment systems, such as Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 and Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 , tend to host a classical spin ice state with low-temperature spin freezing and emergent magnetic monopoles. Systems with smaller effective moments, such as Pr 3+ -based pyrochlores, have been proposed as excellent candidates for hosting a “quantum spin ice” characterized by entanglement and a slew of exotic quasiparticle excitations. However, experimental evidence for a quantum spin ice state has remained elusive. Here, in this work, we show that the low-temperature magnetic properties of Pr 2 Sn 2 O 7 satisfy several important criteria for continued consideration as a quantum spin ice. We find that Pr 2 Sn 2 O 7 exhibits two distinct spin-correlation time scales of τ ≥ 10 –4 and ~10 –10 s in the spin ice regime. Our comprehensive bulk characterization and neutron scattering measurements enable us to map out the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram, producing results consistent with expectations for a ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore. We identify key hallmarks of spin ice physics and show that the application of small magnetic fields (μ 0 H c ~0.5 T) suppresses the spin ice state and induces a field-polarized, ordered spin-ice phase. Together, our work clarifies the current state of Pr 2 Sn 2 O 7 and encourages future studies aimed at exploring the potential for a quantum spin ice ground state in this system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Local distortion driven magnetic phase switching in pyrochlore Yb 2 ( Ti 1 - x Sn x ) 2 O 7

While it is commonly accepted that the disorder induced by magnetic ion doping in quantum magnets usually generates a rugged free-energy landscape resulting in slow or glassy spin dynamics, the disorder/distortion effects associated with nonmagnetic ion sites doping are still illusive. Here, using AC susceptibility measurements, we show that the mixture of Sn/Ti on the nonmagnetic ion sites of pyrochlore Yb 2 ⁢(Ti 1-x⁢ Sn x ) 2⁢ O 7 induces an antiferromagnetic ground state despite both parent compounds, Yb 2 ⁢Ti 2 ⁢O 7 and Yb 2 ⁢Sn 2⁢ O 7 , order ferromagnetically. Local structure studies through neutron total scattering reveals the local distortion in the nonmagnetic ion sites and its strong correlation with the magnetic phase switching. Further, our study demonstrates the local distortion as induced by the nonmagnetic ion site mixture could be a new path to achieve magnetic phase switching, which has been traditionally obtained by external stimuli such as temperature, magnetic field, pressure, strain, light, etc.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nonlinear magnons and exchange Hamiltonians of the delafossite proximate quantum spin liquid candidates KYbSe 2 and NaYbSe 2

Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are theoretical states of matter with long-range entanglement and exotic quasiparticles. However, they generally elude quantitative theory, rendering their underlying phases mysterious and hampering efforts to identify experimental QSL states. Here we study triangular-lattice resonating-valence-bond QSL candidate materials KYbSe 2 and NaYbSe 2 . We measure the magnon modes in their 1/3 plateau phase, where quantitative theory is tractable, using inelastic neutron scattering and fit them using nonlinear spin wave theory. We also fit the KYbSe 2 heat capacity using high-temperature series expansion. Both KYbSe 2 fits yield the same magnetic Hamiltonian to within uncertainty, confirming previous estimates and showing the Heisenberg ratio J 2 / J 1 to be an accurate model for these materials. Most importantly, comparing KYbSe 2 and NaYbSe 2 shows that the smaller A -site Na + ion has a larger J 2 / J 1 ratio. However, hydrostatic pressure applied to KYbSe 2 increases the ordering temperature (a result consistent with density functional theory calculations), indicating that pressure decreases J 2 / J 1 . In conclusion, these results show how the periodic table and hydrostatic pressure can tune the A YbSe 2 materials in a controlled way.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Spinon continuum in the Heisenberg quantum chain compound Sr 2 ⁢V 3 ⁢O 9

Magnetic excitations in the spin chain candidate Sr 2 ⁢V 3 ⁢O 9 have been investigated by inelastic neutron scattering on a single crystal sample. A spinon continuum with a bandwidth of ~22 meV is observed along the chain formed by alternating magnetic V 4+ and nonmagnetic V 5+ ions, which reveals the importance of the orbital degree of freedom in determining the chain axis as identified by prior electronic structure calculations. Incipient magnetic Bragg peaks due to weak ferromagnetic interchain couplings emerge when approaching the magnetic transition at T N ~ 5.3 K, while the excitations remain gapless within the instrumental resolution. Comparisons to the Bethe ansatz, density matrix renormalization group calculations, and effective field theories confirm Sr 2 ⁢V 3 ⁢O 9 as a host of weakly coupled S = 1/2 chains dominated by antiferromagnetic intrachain interactions of ~7.1(1) meV.

1-dimensional spin chains↗
DOE OSTI2023

Static and dynamical properties of the spin-$\frac{5}{2}$ nearly ideal triangular lattice antiferromagnet $\mathrm{Ba_3}$ $\mathrm{MnSb_2}$ $\mathrm{O_9}$

Here, we study the ground state and spin excitations in Ba 3 MnSb 2 O 9 , an easy-plane S = 5/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet. By combining single-crystal neutron scattering, electric spin resonance (ESR), and spin wave calculations, we determine the frustrated quasi-two-dimensional spin Hamiltonian parameters describing the material. While the material has a slight monoclinic structural distortion, which could allow for isosceles-triangular exchanges and biaxial anisotropy by symmetry, we observe no deviation from the behavior expected for spin waves in the in-plane $120$° state. Even the easy-plane anisotropy is so small that it can only be detected by ESR in our study. In conjunction with the quasi-two-dimensionality, our study establishes that Ba 3 MnSb 2 O 9 is a nearly ideal triangular lattice antiferromagnet with the quasiclassical spin S = 5/2, which suggests that it has the potential for an experimental study of Z- or Z 2 -vortex excitations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Continuous Spin Excitations in the Three-Dimensional Frustrated Magnet K 2 Ni 2 ⁢(SO 4 ) 3

Continuous spin excitations are widely recognized as one of the hallmarks of novel spin states in quantum magnets, such as quantum spin liquids (QSLs). Here, we report the observation of such kind of excitations in K 2 Ni 2 (SO 4 ) 3 , which consists of two sets of intersected spin-1 (Ni 2+ ) trillium lattices. Our inelastic neutron scattering measurement on single crystals clearly shows a dominant excitation continuum, which exhibits a distinct temperature-dependent behavior from that of spin waves and is rooted in strong quantum spin fluctuations. Further using the self-consistent-Gaussian-approximation method, we determine that the fourth- and fifth nearest-neighbor exchange interactions are dominant. These two bonds together form a unique three-dimensional network of corner-sharing tetrahedra, which we name as a “hypertrillium” lattice. In conclusion, our results provide direct evidence for the existence of QSL features in K 2 Ni 2 (SO 4 ) 3 and highlight the potential for the hypertrillium lattice to host frustrated quantum magnetism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electronic and magnetic phase diagrams of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid candidate Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6

The 3⁢d 7 Co 2+ -based insulating magnet Na 2 ⁢Co 2 ⁢TeO 6 has recently been reported to have strong Kitaev interactions on a honeycomb lattice and is thus being considered as a Kitaev quandum spin liquid candidate. However, due to the existence of other types of interactions, a spontaneous long-range magnetic order occurs. This order is suppressed by applied magnetic fields leading to a succession of phases and ultimately saturation of the magnetic moments. The precise phase diagram, the nature of the phases, and the possibility that one of the field-induced phases is a Kitaev quantum spin liquid phase are still a matter of debate. Here, in this study, we measured an extensive set of physical properties to build the complete temperature-field phase diagrams to magnetic saturation at 10 T for magnetic fields along the a and a* axes, and a partial phase diagram up to 60 T along c. We probe the phases using magnetization, specific heat, magnetocaloric effect, magnetostriction, dielectric constant, and electric polarization, which is a symmetry-sensitive probe. With these measurements, we identify all the previously incomplete phase boundaries and find additional high-field phase boundaries. We find strong magnetoelectric coupling in the dielectric constant and moderate magnetostrictive coupling at several phase boundaries. Furthermore, we detect the symmetry of the magnetic order using electrical polarization measurements under magnetic fields. Based on our analysis, the absence of electric polarization under zero or finite magnetic field in any of the phases or after any combination of magnetic/electric field cooling suggests that a zigzag spin structure is more likely than a triple-Q spin structure at zero field. Finally, we investigate the hysteresis and first- or second-order nature of each phase transition and its entropy changes. With this information, we establish a map of the magnetic phases of this compound and its magnetic, thermodynamic, and magnetoelectric properties, and discuss where spin liquid or other phases may be sought in future studies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Disorder-Enriched Magnetic Excitations in a Heisenberg-Kitaev Quantum Magnet Na 2 ⁢Co 2 ⁢TeO 6

Using optical magnetospectroscopy, we investigate the magnetic excitations of Na 2 ⁢Co 2 ⁢TeO 6 in a broad magnetic field range (0 T ≤ B ≤ 17.5 T) at low temperature. Our measurements reveal rich spectra of in-plane magnetic excitations with a surprisingly large number of modes, even in the high-field spin-polarized state. Theoretical calculations find that the Na-occupation disorder in Na 2 ⁢Co 2 ⁢TeO 6 plays a crucial role in generating these modes. Our Letter demonstrates the necessity to consider disorder in the spin environment in the search for Kitaev quantum spin liquid states in practicable materials.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetic field effects on the quantum spin liquid behaviors of NaYbS 2

Spin-orbit coupling is an important ingredient to regulate the many-body physics, especially for many spin liquid candidate materials such as rare-earth magnets and Kitaev materials. The rare-earth chalcogenides NaYbCh 2 (Ch = O, S, Se) is a congenital frustrating system to exhibit the intrinsic landmark of spin liquid by eliminating both the site disorders between Na + and Yb 3+ ions with the big ionic size difference and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction with the perfect triangular lattice of the Yb 3+ ions. The temperature versus magnetic-field phase diagram is established by the magnetization, specific heat, and neutron-scattering measurements. Notably, the neutron diffraction spectra and the magnetization curve might provide microscopic evidence for a series of spin configuration for in-plane fields, which include the disordered spin liquid state, 120° antiferromagnet, and one-half magnetization state. Furthermore, the ground state is suggested to be a gapless spin liquid from inelastic neutron scattering, and the magnetic field adjusts the spin orbit coupling. Therefore, the strong spin-orbit coupling in the frustrated quantum magnet substantially enriches low-energy spin physics. This rare-earth family could offer a good platform for exploring the quantum spin liquid ground state and quantum magnetic transitions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Structural magnetic glassiness in the spin ice Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7

The origin and nature of glassy dynamics presents one of the central enigmas of condensed-matter physics across a broad range of systems ranging from window glass to spin glasses. The spin-ice compound Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 , which is perhaps best known as hosting a three-dimensional Coulomb spin liquid with magnetically charged monopole excitations, also falls out of equilibrium at low temperature. How and why it does so remains an open question. Based on an analysis of low-temperature diffuse neutron-scattering experiments employing different cooling protocols alongside recent magnetic noise studies, combined with extensive numerical modeling, we argue that upon cooling, the spins freeze into what may be termed a “structural magnetic glass,” without an a priori need for chemical or structural disorder. Specifically, our model indicates the presence of frustration on two levels, first producing a near-degenerate constrained manifold inside which phase ordering kinetics is in turn frustrated. A remarkable feature is that monopoles act as sole annealers of the spin network and their pathways and history encode the development of glass dynamics, allowing the glass formation to be visualized. Our results suggest that spin ice Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 provides one prototype of magnetic glass formation specifically and a setting for the study of kinetically constrained systems more generally.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Controllable Emergent Spatial Spin Modulation in Sr 2 IrO 4 by In Situ Shear Strain

Symmetric anisotropic interaction can be ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic at the same time but for different crystallographic axes. We show that the competition of anisotropic interactions of orthogonal irreducible representations can be a general route to obtain new exotic magnetic states. We demonstrate it here by observing the emergence of a continuously tunable 12-layer spatial spin modulation when distorting the square-lattice planes in the quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnetic Sr 2 IrO 4 under in situ shear strain. Furthermore, this translation-symmetry-breaking phase is a result of an unusual strain-activated anisotropic interaction which is at the fourth order and competing with the inherent quadratic anisotropic interaction. Such a mechanism of competing anisotropy is distinct from that among the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and/or the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, and it could be widely applicable and highly controllable in low-dimensional magnets.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum Effect on the Ground State of the Triple-Perovskite Ba 3 MNb 2 O 9 (M = Co, Ni, and Mn) with Triangular-Lattice

As the simplest example of geometrical frustration, the two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnet exhibits the mismatch between the lattice geometry and spin-exchange interaction, which has been the subject of intensive studies due to its exotic quantum phenomena. In this work, we performed detailed studies of the magnetic structures and spin wave excitations by neutron powder diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on the triple-perovskite oxides Ba 3 MNb 2 O 9 (M = Co, Ni, and Mn) with triangular-lattice geometry. The interplay between the frustrated interaction and easy-plane/axis anisotropy gives rise to two magnetic phase transition temperatures for Ba 3 CoNb 2 O 9 (Ba 3 MnNb 2 O 9 ) and only one for Ba 3 NiNb 2 O 9 . The linear spin-wave theory +1/S calculations indicate that both spatial dimensionality and the spin size have a significant impact on the strength of quantum fluctuations, which lead to their different magnetic ground states and exotic physical properties. Moreover, the effects of the thermal fluctuations are presented for Ba 3 NiNb 2 O 9 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Investigation of the monopole magneto-chemical potential in spin ices using capacitive torque magnetometry

The single-ion anisotropy and magnetic interactions in spin-ice systems give rise to unusual non-collinear spin textures, such as Pauling states and magnetic monopoles. The effective spin correlation strength (J eff ) determines the relative energies of the different spin-ice states. With this work, we display the capability of capacitive torque magnetometry in characterizing the magneto-chemical potential associated with monopole formation. We build a magnetic phase diagram of Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 , and show that the magneto-chemical potential depends on the spin sublattice (α or β), i.e., the Pauling state, involved in the transition. Monte Carlo simulations using the dipolar-spin-ice Hamiltonian support our findings of a sublattice-dependent magneto-chemical potential, but the model underestimates the J eff for the β-sublattice. Additional simulations, including next-nearest neighbor interactions (J 2 ), show that long-range exchange terms in the Hamiltonian are needed to describe the measurements. This demonstrates that torque magnetometry provides a sensitive test for J eff and the spin-spin interactions that contribute to it.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗