Refine
Language
- English (9)
Has Fulltext
- yes (9)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (9)
Keywords
Institute
- Physik (9)
Evolution of nematic fluctuations in CaK(Fe1−xNix)4As4 with spin-vortex crystal magnetic order
(2020)
The CaK(Fe1−xNix)4As4 superconductors resemble the archetypal 122-type iron-based materials but have a crystal structure with distinctly lower symmetry. This family hosts one of the few examples of the so-called spin-vortex crystal magnetic order, a non-collinear magnetic configuration that preserves tetragonal symmetry, in contrast to the orthorhombic collinear stripe-type magnetic configuration common to the 122-type systems. Thus, nematic order is completely absent from its phase diagram. To investigate the evolution of nematic fluctuations in such a case, we present elastoresistance and elastic modulus measurements in CaK(Fe1−xNix)4As4 (x=0−0.05) combined with phenomenological modeling and density functional theory. We find clear experimental signatures of considerable nematic fluctuations, including softening of the Young's modulus Y[110] and a Curie-Weiss type divergence of the B2g elastoresistance coefficient in CaK(Fe0.951Ni0.049)4As4. Overall, nematic fluctuations within this series bear strong similarities to the hole-doped Ba1−xKxFe2As2 series, including a substitution-induced sign change. Our theoretical analysis addresses the effect of the specific crystal symmetry of the 1144-type structure in determining its magnetic ground state and on the nematic fluctuations.
In two-dimensional (2D) NbSe2 crystal, which lacks inversion symmetry, strong spin-orbit coupling aligns the spins of Cooper pairs to the orbital valleys, forming Ising Cooper pairs (ICPs). The unusual spin texture of ICPs can be further modulated by introducing magnetic exchange. Here, we report unconventional supercurrent phase in van der Waals heterostructure Josephson junctions (JJs) that couples NbSe2 ICPs across an atomically thin magnetic insulator (MI) Cr2Ge2Te6. By constructing a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), we measure the phase of the transferred Cooper pairs in the MI JJ. We demonstrate a doubly degenerate nontrivial JJ phase (ϕ), formed by momentum-conserving tunneling of ICPs across magnetic domains in the barrier. The doubly degenerate ground states in MI JJs provide a two-level quantum system that can be utilized as a new dissipationless component for superconducting quantum devices. Our work boosts the study of various superconducting states with spin-orbit coupling, opening up an avenue to designing new superconducting phase-controlled quantum electronic devices.
The maximum recoverable strain of most crystalline solids is less than 1% because plastic deformation or fracture usually occurs at a small strain. In this work, we show that a SrNi2P2 micropillar exhibits pseudoelasticity with a large maximum recoverable strain of ~14% under uniaxial compression via unique reversible structural transformation, double lattice collapse-expansion that is repeatable under cyclic loading. Its high yield strength (~3.8±0.5 GPa) and large maximum recoverable strain bring out the ultrahigh modulus of resilience (~146±19MJ/m3) a few orders of magnitude higher than that of most engineering materials. The double lattice collapse-expansion mechanism shows stress-strain behaviors similar with that of conventional shape memory alloys, such as hysteresis and thermo-mechanical actuation, even though the structural changes involved are completely different. Our work suggests that the discovery of a new class of high performance ThCr2Si2-structured materials will open new research opportunities in the field of pseudoelasticity
The discovery of the 1144-phase, e.g. CaKFe4As4, creates opportunities to build novel intermetallics with alternative stacking of two parent compounds. Here we formalize the idea by defining a class of bulk crystalline solids with A-B stacking (including 1144-phases and beyond), which is a generalization of hetero-structures from few-layer or thin-film semi-conductors to bulk intermetallics. Theoretically, four families of phosphides \textit{AB}(TM)4P4 (TM=Fe, Ru, Co, Ni) are investigated by first-principles calculations, wherein configurational, vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom are considered. It predicts a variety of stable 1144-phases (especially Ru- and Fe-phosphides). Stability rules are found and structural/electronic properties are discussed. Experimentally, we synthesize high-purity CaKRu4P4 as a proof of principle example. The synthetic method is simple and easily applied. Moreover, it alludes to a strategy to explore complex multi-component compounds, facilitated by a phase diagram coordinated by collective descriptors.
The discovery of the 1144-phase, e.g. CaKFe4As4, creates opportunities to build novel intermetallics with alternative stacking of two parent compounds. Here we formalize the idea by defining a class of bulk crystalline solids with A-B stacking (including 1144-phases and beyond), which is a generalization of hetero-structures from few-layer or thin-film semi-conductors to bulk intermetallics. Theoretically, four families of phosphides \textit{AB}(TM)4P4 (TM=Fe, Ru, Co, Ni) are investigated by first-principles calculations, wherein configurational, vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom are considered. It predicts a variety of stable 1144-phases (especially Ru- and Fe-phosphides). Stability rules are found and structural/electronic properties are discussed. Experimentally, we synthesize high-purity CaKRu4P4 as a proof of principle example. The synthetic method is simple and easily applied. Moreover, it alludes to a strategy to explore complex multi-component compounds, facilitated by a phase diagram coordinated by collective descriptors.
The discovery of the 1144-phase, e.g. CaKFe4As4, creates opportunities to build novel intermetallics with alternative stacking of two parent compounds. Here we formalize the idea and introduce a concept, namely hetero-crystals (HC), to describe a unique class of bulk crystalline solids with such A-B stacking (including 1144-phases and beyond). HC generalizes hetero-structures from few-layer or thin-film semi-conductors to bulk intermetallics. We illustrate the HC concept with the example of 1144-phases. Theoretically, four families of phosphides \textit{AB}(TM)4P4 (TM=Fe, Ru, Co, Ni) are investigated by first-principles calculations, wherein configurational, vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom are considered. It predicts a variety of stable 1144-phases (especially Ru- and Fe-phosphides). Stability rules are found and structural/electronic properties are discussed. Experimentally, we synthesize high-purity CaKRu4P4 as a proof of principle example of such a HC. The synthetic method is simple and can be applied to other HC. Moreover, HC alludes to a new strategy to explore complex multi-component compounds, facilitated by a new phase diagram coordinated by collective descriptors.
The antiferromagnet and semimetal EuCd2As2 has recently attracted a lot of attention due to a wealth of topological phases arising from the interplay of topology and magnetism. In particular, the presence of a single pair of Weyl points is predicted for a ferromagnetic configuration of Eu spins along the c-axis in EuCd2As2. In the search for such phases, we investigate here the effects of hydrostatic pressure in EuCd2As2. For that, we present specific heat, transport and μSR measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to ∼2.5GPa, combined with {\it ab initio} density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally, we establish that the ground state of EuCd2As2 changes from in-plane antiferromagnetic (AFMab) to ferromagnetic at a critical pressure of ≈2\,GPa, which is likely characterized by the moments dominantly lying within the ab plane (FMab). The AFMab-FMab transition at such a relatively low pressure is supported by our DFT calculations. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results indicate that EuCd2As2 moves closer to the sought-for FMc state (moments ∥ c) with increasing pressure further. We predict that a pressure of ≈\,23\,GPa will stabilize the FMc state, if Eu remains in a 2+ valence state. Thus, our work establishes hydrostatic pressure as a key tuning parameter that (i) allows for a continuous tuning between magnetic ground states in a single sample of EuCd2As2 and (ii) enables the exploration of the interplay between magnetism and topology and thereby motivates a series of future experiments on this magnetic Weyl semimetal.
The antiferromagnet and semimetal EuCd2As2 has recently attracted a lot of attention due to a wealth of topological phases arising from the interplay of topology and magnetism. In particular, the presence of a single pair of Weyl points is predicted for a ferromagnetic configuration of Eu spins along the c-axis in EuCd2As2. In the search for such phases, we investigate here the effects of hydrostatic pressure in EuCd2As2. For that, we present specific heat, transport and μSR measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to ∼2.5GPa, combined with {\it ab initio} density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally, we establish that the ground state of EuCd2As2 changes from in-plane antiferromagnetic (AFMab) to ferromagnetic at a critical pressure of ≈2\,GPa, which is likely characterized by the moments dominantly lying within the ab plane (FMab). The AFMab-FMab transition at such a relatively low pressure is supported by our DFT calculations. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results indicate that EuCd2As2 moves closer to the sought-for FMc state (moments ∥ c) with increasing pressure further. We predict that a pressure of ≈\,23\,GPa will stabilize the FMc state, if Eu remains in a 2+ valence state. Thus, our work establishes hydrostatic pressure as a key tuning parameter that (i) allows for a continuous tuning between magnetic ground states in a single sample of EuCd2As2 and (ii) enables the exploration of the interplay between magnetism and topology and thereby motivates a series of future experiments on this magnetic Weyl semimetal.
Lattice strains of appropriate symmetry have served as an excellent tool to explore the interaction of superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors with nematic and stripe spin-density wave (SSDW) order, which are both closely tied to an orthorhombic distortion. In this work, we contribute to a broader understanding of the coupling of strain to superconductivity and competing normal-state orders by studying CaKFe4As4 under large, in-plane strains of B1g and B2g symmetry. In contrast to the majority of iron-based superconductors, pure CaKFe4As4 exhibits superconductivity with relatively high transition temperature of Tc∼35 K in proximity of a non-collinear, tetragonal, hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC) order. Through experiments, we demonstrate an anisotropic in-plane strain response of Tc, which is reminiscent of the behavior of other pnictides with nematicity. However, our calculations suggest that in CaKFe4As4, this anisotropic response correlates with the one of the SVC fluctuations, highlighting the close interrelation of magnetism and high-Tc superconductivity. By suggesting moderate B2g strains as an effective parameter to change the stability of SVC and SSDW, we outline a pathway to a unified phase diagram of iron-based superconductivity.