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At least 271 records · Page 15

Magnetic Correlations and Pairing in the 1/5-Depleted Square Lattice Hubbard Model

We study the single-orbital Hubbard model on the 1/5-depleted square-lattice geometry, which arises in such diverse systems as the spin-gap magnetic insulator CaV 4 O 9 and ordered-vacancy iron selenides, presenting new issues regarding the origin of both magnetic ordering and superconductivity in these materials. We find a rich phase diagram that includes a plaquette singlet phase, a dimer singlet phase, a Néel and a block-spin antiferromagnetic phase, and stripe phases. Quantum Monte Carlo simulations show that the dominant pairing correlations at half filling change character from d wave in the plaquette phase to extended s wave upon transition to the Néel phase. These findings have intriguing connections to iron-based superconductors, and suggest that some physics of multiorbital systems can be captured by a single-orbital model at different dopings.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators for high-energy-density-physics experiments

Here, we have developed conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators: Z 300 and Z 800. The designs are based on an accelerator architecture that is founded on two concepts: single-stage electrical-pulse compression and impedance matching [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 10, 030401 (2007)]. The prime power source of each machine consists of 90 linear-transformer-driver (LTD) modules. Each module comprises LTD cavities connected electrically in series, each of which is powered by 5-GW LTD bricks connected electrically in parallel. (A brick comprises a single switch and two capacitors in series.) Six water-insulated radial-transmission-line impedance transformers transport the power generated by the modules to a six-level vacuum-insulator stack. The stack serves as the accelerator’s water-vacuum interface. The stack is connected to six conical outer magnetically insulated vacuum transmission lines (MITLs), which are joined in parallel at a 10-cm radius by a triple-post-hole vacuum convolute. The convolute sums the electrical currents at the outputs of the six outer MITLs, and delivers the combined current to a single short inner MITL. The inner MITL transmits the combined current to the accelerator’s physics-package load. Z 300 is 35 m in diameter and stores 48 MJ of electrical energy in its LTD capacitors. The accelerator generates 320 TW of electrical power at the output of the LTD system, and delivers 48 MA in 154 ns to a magnetized-liner inertial-fusion (MagLIF) target [Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)]. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF target is 870 TW, which is the highest power throughout the accelerator. Power amplification is accomplished by the centrally located vacuum section, which serves as an intermediate inductive-energy-storage device. The principal goal of Z 300 is to achieve thermonuclear ignition; i.e., a fusion yield that exceeds the energy transmitted by the accelerator to the liner. 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations suggest Z 300 will deliver 4.3 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 18 MJ. Z 800 is 52 m in diameter and stores 130 MJ. This accelerator generates 890 TW at the output of its LTD system, and delivers 65 MA in 113 ns to a MagLIF target. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF liner is 2500 TW. The principal goal of Z 800 is to achieve high-yield thermonuclear fusion; i.e., a yield that exceeds the energy initially stored by the accelerator’s capacitors. 2D MHD simulations suggest Z 800 will deliver 8.0 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 440 MJ. Z 300 and Z 800, or variations of these accelerators, will allow the international high-energy-density-physics community to conduct advanced inertial-confinement-fusion, radiation-physics, material-physics, and laboratory-astrophysics experiments over heretofore-inaccessible parameter regimes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Manipulating chiral spin transport with ferroelectric polarization

A magnon is a collective excitation of the spin structure in a magnetic insulator and can transmit spin angular momentum with negligible dissipation. This quantum of a spin wave has always been manipulated through magnetic dipoles (that is, by breaking time-reversal symmetry). Here we report the experimental observation of chiral spin transport in multiferroic BiFeO 3 and its control by reversing the ferroelectric polarization (that is, by breaking spatial inversion symmetry). The ferroelectrically controlled magnons show up to 18% modulation at room temperature. The spin torque that the magnons in BiFeO 3 carry can be used to efficiently switch the magnetization of adjacent magnets, with a spin-torque efficiency comparable to the spin Hall effect in heavy metals. Utilizing such controllable magnon generation and transmission in BiFeO 3 , an all-oxide, energy-scalable logic is demonstrated composed of spin-orbit injection, detection and magnetoelectric control. In conclusion, our observations open a new chapter of multiferroic magnons and pave another path towards low-dissipation nanoelectronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spin injection and spin transport in paramagnetic insulators

We investigate the spin injection and the spin transport in paramagnetic insulators described by simple Heisenberg interactions using auxiliary particle methods. Some of these methods allow access to both paramagnetic states above magnetic transition temperatures and magnetic states at low temperatures. It is predicted that the spin injection at an interface with a normal metal is rather insensitive to temperatures above the magnetic transition temperature. On the other hand below the transition temperature, it decreases monotonically and disappears at zero temperature. We also analyze the bulk spin conductance. We show that the conductance becomes zero at zero temperature as predicted by linear spin wave theory but increases with temperature and is maximized around the magnetic transition temperature. These findings suggest that the compromise between the two effects determines the optimal temperature for spintronics applications utilizing magnetic insulators.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Low-Field Regime of Magnon Transport in PLD-Grown YIG Films

The diffusive propagation of magnons in the archetypal magnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is being actively explored for low-power and low-loss data communication. However, operation under external magnetic fields reduces the magnon diffusion length and attenuates the voltage amplitude at measurement terminals of magnonic devices. Here, we explore the low-field and field-free regime of diffusive magnon transport in YIG films, demonstrating that the field-induced suppression of magnon diffusion length can be fully inhibited only at the zero-field limit. Even a modest field of 10 mT attenuates the nonlocal spin voltage by ~20% in an ~1 μm long transport channel. We further identify the often overlooked in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy as the dominant factor governing magnon transport in the low-field regime. Using Stoner-Wohlfarth macrospin simulations, we quantify the anisotropy parameters and reveal a 10-fold enhancement at low temperatures, a key finding for field-free operation of magnonic devices under cryogenic conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The generation of mega-gauss fields on the Cornell beam research accelerator

Intense magnetic fields modify quantum processes in extremely dense matter, calling for precise measurements in very harsh conditions. This endeavor becomes even more challenging because the generation of mega-gauss fields in a laboratory is far from trivial. Here, this paper presents a unique and compact approach to generate fields above 2 MG in less than 150 ns inside a volume on the order of half a cubic centimeter. Magnetic insulation, keeping plasma ablation close to the wire surface, and mechanical inertia, limiting coil motion throughout the current discharge, enable the generation of intense magnetic fields where the shape of the conductor controls the field topology with exquisite precision and versatility, limiting the need for mapping magnetic fields experimentally.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Design and modeling of indirectly driven magnetized implosions on the NIF

The use of magnetic fields to improve the performance of hohlraum-driven implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is discussed. The focus is on magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion, where the primary field effect is to reduce electron-thermal and alpha-particle loss from the compressed hotspot (magnetic pressure is of secondary importance). We summarize the requirements to achieve this state. The design of recent NIF magnetized hohlraum experiments is presented. These are close to earlier shots in the three-shock, high-adiabat (BigFoot) campaign, subject to the constraints that magnetized NIF targets must be fielded at room-temperature, and use ≲1 MJ of laser energy to avoid the risk of optics damage from stimulated Brillouin scattering. We present results from the original magnetized hohlraum platform, as well as a later variant that gives a higher hotspot temperature. In both platforms, imposed fields (at the capsule center) of up to 28 T increase the fusion yield and hotspot temperature. Integrated radiation-magneto-hydrodynamic modeling with the Lasnex code of these shots is shown, where laser power multipliers and a saturation clamp on cross-beam energy transfer are developed to match the time of peak capsule emission and the P2 Legendre moment of the hotspot x-ray image. The resulting fusion yield and ion temperature agree decently with the measured relative effects of the field, although the absolute simulated yields are higher than the data by 2.0−2.7×. The tuned parameters and yield discrepancy are comparable for experiments with and without an imposed field, indicating the model adequately captures the field effects. Self-generated and imposed fields are added sequentially to simulations of one BigFoot NIF shot to understand how they alter target dynamics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Proximity Spin–Orbit Torque on a Two-Dimensional Magnet within van der Waals Heterostructure: Current-Driven Antiferromagnet-to-Ferromagnet Reversible Nonequilibrium Phase Transition in Bilayer CrI 3

The recently discovered two-dimensional magnetic insulator CrI 3 is an intriguing case for basic research and spintronic applications since it is a ferromagnet in the bulk but an antiferromagnet in bilayer form, with its magnetic ordering amenable to external manipulations. Using the first-principles quantum transport approach, we predict that injecting unpolarized charge current parallel to the interface of the bilayer-CrI 3 /monolayer-TaSe 2 van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure will induce spin–orbit torque and thereby drive the dynamics of magnetization on the first monolayer of CrI 3 in direct contact with TaSe 2 . By combining the calculated complex angular dependence of spin–orbit torque with the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for classical dynamics of magnetization, we demonstrate that current pulses can switch the direction of magnetization on the first monolayer to become parallel to that of the second monolayer, thereby converting CrI 3 from antiferromagnet to ferromagnet while not requiring any external magnetic field. We explain the mechanism of this reversible current-driven nonequilibrium phase transition by showing that first monolayer of CrI 3 carries current due to evanescent wave functions injected by metallic transition metal dichalcogenide TaSe 2 , while concurrently acquiring strong spin–orbit coupling via such a proximity effect, whereas the second monolayer of CrI 3 remains insulating. Furthermore, the transition can be detected by passing vertical read current through the vdW heterostructure, encapsulated by a bilayer of hexagonal boron nitride and sandwiched between graphite electrodes, where we find a tunneling magnetoresistance of ≃240%.

2D magnetic materials↗

Quantized resistance revealed at the criticality of the quantum anomalous Hall phase transitions

In multilayered magnetic topological insulator structures, magnetization reversal processes can drive topological phase transitions between quantum anomalous Hall, axion insulator, and normal insulator states. Here we report an examination of the critical behavior of two such transitions: the quantum anomalous Hall to normal insulator (QAH-NI), and quantum anomalous Hall to axion insulator (QAH-AXI) transitions. By introducing a new analysis protocol wherein temperature dependent variations in the magnetic coercivity are accounted for, the critical behavior of the QAH-NI and QAH-AXI transitions are evaluated over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field. Despite the uniqueness of these different transitions, quantized longitudinal resistance and Hall conductance are observed at criticality in both cases. Furthermore, critical exponents were extracted for QAH-AXI transitions occurring at magnetization reversals of two different magnetic layers. The observation of consistent critical exponents and resistances in each case, independent of the magnetic layer details, demonstrates critical behaviors in quantum anomalous Hall transitions to be of electronic rather than magnetic origin. Our finding offers a new avenue for studies of phase transition and criticality in QAH insulators.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

High-pressure synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of the Shastry-Sutherland-lattice oxides BaL n 2 ZnO 5 (L n = Pr, Sm, Eu)

BaPr 2 ZnO 5 , BaSm 2 ZnO 5 , and BaEu 2 ZnO 5 – a series of 4f magnetic insulators comprising the Shastry-Sutherland lattice – were synthesized via a solid-state reaction under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. The magnetic behaviors are well characterized by the localized 4f electrons of each Ln 3+ (= Pr, Sm, Eu) under the influence of the crystal-electric field of the surrounding ions. The magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements of BaPr 2 ZnO 5 (Pr 3+ ; 4f 2 3 H 4 ) indicate the splitting of the ground state J-multiplet due to the crystal-electric field. BaSm 2 ZnO 5 (Sm 3+ ; 4f 5 6 H 5/2 ) is a strong Van Vleck paramagnet, while BaEu 2 ZnO 5 is non-magnetic due to the 7 F 0 ground state (Eu 3+ ; 4f 6 7 F 0 ). The series of new oxides enriches a group of the Shastry-Sutherland lattice materials and helps to develop a range of two-dimensional quantum materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Non-local magnetoresistance in YIG/Pt nanostructures

We study the local and non-local magnetoresistance of thin Pt strips deposited onto yttrium iron garnet. The local magnetoresistive response, inferred from the voltage drop measured along one given Pt strip upon current-biasing it, shows the characteristic magnetization orientation dependence of the spin Hall magnetoresistance. We simultaneously also record the non-local voltage appearing along a second, electrically isolated, Pt strip, separated from the current carrying one by a gap of a few 100 nm. The corresponding non-local magnetoresistance exhibits the symmetry expected for a magnon spin accumulation-driven process, confirming the results recently put forward by Cornelissen et al. [“Long-distance transport of magnon spin information in a magnetic insulator at room temperature,” Nat. Phys. (published online 14 September 2015)]. Our magnetotransport data, taken at a series of different temperatures as a function of magnetic field orientation, rotating the externally applied field in three mutually orthogonal planes, show that the mechanisms behind the spin Hall and the non-local magnetoresistance are qualitatively different. In particular, the non-local magnetoresistance vanishes at liquid Helium temperatures, while the spin Hall magnetoresistance prevails.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Pulsed currents carried by whistlers. I - Excitation by magnetic antennas

Time-varying plasma currents associated with low-frequency whistlers have been investigated experimentally. Pulsed currents are induced in the uniform, boundary-free interior of a large laboratory plasma by means of insulated magnetic antennas. The time-varying magnetic field is measured in three dimensions, and the current density is calculated from del x B(r,t) = mu(0)J, where J includes the displacement current density. Typical fields B(r,t) and J(r,t) induced by a magnetic loop antenna show three-dimensional helices due to linked toroidal and solenoidal field topologies. Constant amplitude and phase surfaces assume conical shapes since the propagation speed along B0 is higher than oblique to B0. The electric field in the wave packet contains both inductive and space-charge contributions, the latter arising from the different dynamics of electrons and ions. The dominant electric field in a whistler packet is a radial space-charge field.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

Spin Hall magnetoresistance in CoFe 2 O 4 /Pt films

Pulse laser deposition and magnetron sputtering techniques have been employed to prepare MgO(001)//CoFe 2 O 4 /Pt samples. Cross section transmission electron microscope results prove that the CoFe 2 O 4 film epitaxially grew along (001) direction. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism results show that magnetic proximity effect in this sample is negligible. Magnetoresistance (MR) properties confirm that spin Hall MR (SMR) dominates in this system. Spin Hall effect-induced anomalous Hall voltage was also observed in this sample. Lastly, these results not only demonstrate the universality of SMR effect but also demonstrate the utility in spintronics of CoFe 2 O 4 as a new type of magnetic insulator.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ferromagnetism of magnetically doped topological insulators in Cr{sub x}Bi{sub 2−x}Te{sub 3} thin films

We investigated the effect of magnetic doping on magnetic and transport properties of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} thin films. Cr{sub x}Bi{sub 2−x}Te{sub 3} thin films with x = 0.03, 0.14, and 0.29 were grown epitaxially on mica substrate with low surface roughness (∼0.4 nm). It is found that Cr is an electron acceptor in Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} and increases the magnetization of Cr{sub x}Bi{sub 2−x}Te{sub 3}. When x = 0.14 and 0.29, ferromagnetism appears in Cr{sub x}Bi{sub 2−x}Te{sub 3} thin films, where anomalous Hall effect and weak localization of magnetoconductance were observed. The Curie temperature, coercivity, and remnant Hall resistance of thin films increase with increasing Cr concentration. The Arrott-Noakes plot demonstrates that the critical mechanism of the ferromagnetism can be described better with 3D-Heisenberg model than with mean field model. Our work may benefit for the practical applications of magnetic topological insulators in spintronics and magnetoelectric devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ultralow Damping in Nanometer-Thick Epitaxial Spinel Ferrite Thin Films

Pure spin currents, unaccompanied by dissipative charge flow, are essential for realizing energy-efficient nanomagnetic information and communications devices. Thin-film magnetic insulators have been identified as promising materials for spin-current technology because they are thought to exhibit lower damping compared with their metallic counterparts. However, insulating behavior is not a sufficient requirement for low damping, as evidenced by the very limited options for low-damping insulators. Here, we demonstrate a new class of nanometer-thick ultralow-damping insulating thin films based on design criteria that minimize orbital angular momentum and structural disorder. Specifically, we show ultralow damping in <20 nm thick spinel-structure magnesium aluminum ferrite (MAFO), in which magnetization arises from Fe 3+ ions with zero orbital angular momentum. Here, these epitaxial MAFO thin films exhibit a Gilbert damping parameter of ~0.0015 and negligible inhomogeneous linewidth broadening, resulting in narrow half width at half-maximum linewidths of ~0.6 mT around 10 GHz. Our findings offer an attractive thin-film platform for enabling integrated insulating spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Proximity Effects and Topological Spin Currents in van der Waals Heterostructures (Final Report)

The major goal of this grant has been to study spin-polarized topological edge states. The original proposal was focused specifically on those of the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect, which was proposed to be realizable via a (simultaneous) magnetic and spin-orbit proximity effect in graphene. En route to realizing the QAH effect, the goal was also to study the newly-discovered 2D magnetic insulators, which have finally been isolated in the single-to-few atomic layers from compounds whose bulk properties have known since the 1970s, and the extent to which magnetic effects could be seen in graphene via proximity coupling. Since the original proposal, the scope of the work has expanded to include study of the topological edge states of the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect and how they are modified by proximity effects and in twisted bilayers. The broader scientific context of the experiments in this proposal is to understand the physical mechanisms behind proximity effects in van der Waals heterostructures. Perhaps the ultimate scientific and technological goal of realizing topological states through proximity effects is the creation of Majorana zero modes in solid-state devices, which has been identified as a major priority in condensed-matter physics and quantum information because of the potential use of Majorana zero modes in topological quantum computing. Van der Waals materials offer advantages in this area because of the diversity of materials that can potentially be used and the unique device architectures that are possible using the van der Waals assembly techniques.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Negligible spin–charge conversion in Bi films and Bi/Ag(Cu) bilayers

Spin pumping experiments using ferromagnetic metals have reported highly efficient spin–charge conversion in Bi and at the Bi/Ag interface, possibly due to the inverse Rashba–Edelstein effect. However, longitudinal spin Seebeck effect experiments using the yttrium iron garnet ferrimagnetic insulator in Bi films and Bi/Ag bilayers do not show evidence of appreciable spin-to-charge conversion except the large Nernst signal inherent to Bi. These contrasting conclusions highlight the differences between magnetic metals and magnetic insulators as spin current injectors. Only the detected voltages that adhere to the inverse spin Hall effect of j C = (2e/h)θ SH j S x σ are due to spin currents.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Voltage control of cavity magnon polariton

We have experimentally investigated the microwave transmission of the cavity-magnon-polariton (CMP) generated by integrating a low damping magnetic insulator onto a 2D microwave cavity. The high tunability of our planar cavity allows the cavity resonance frequency to be precisely controlled using a DC voltage. By appropriately tuning the voltage and magnetic bias, we can observe the cavity photon magnon coupling and the magnetic coupling between a magnetostatic mode and the generated CMP. The dispersion of the generated CMP was measured by either tuning the magnetic field or the applied voltage. This electrical control of CMP may open up avenues for designing advanced on-chip microwave devices that utilize light-matter interaction.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗