K. Tsuruta

Discrete Change in Magnetization by Chiral Soliton Lattice Formation in the Chiral Magnet Cr1/3NbS2

In the chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2, discrete changes in the magnetization (M) caused by the formation of a chiral soliton lattice (CSL) were observed in magnetization curve measurements using a single crystal of submillimeter thickness. When M is measured with a minimal increment of the magnetic field H, 0.15 Oe, discrete changes in M are observed in the H region that exhibits definite magnetic hysteresis. In particular, enormous discrete changes in M are observed as H decreases from the field above the saturation field, while fine M steps are also found in the intermediate H range independently of the sweeping direction of the field. The former is considered as a type of enormous Barkhausen effect associated with the CSL formation. The latter originates from the change in soliton number during the CSL formation.

Size dependence of discrete change in magnetization in single crystal of chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2

The single crystal of a chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2 exhibits discrete changes in magnetization (M) in response to changes in magnetic field (H) triggered by the formation of a chiral soliton lattice (CSL). In order to provide evidence of this phenomenon, the study of the size effect is indispensable. We investigated the effects of size on this phenomenon by the use of two single crystals, (A) and (B), whose crystal sizes along the c-axis were 110 μm and 60 μm, respectively. First, in (A), the large jumps of M observed in the process of decreasing H exhibited inconsistent features, whereas the largest and second-largest jumps in (B) exhibited reproducibility for both the value of H and the magnitude of the M jumps. This confirms that these large jumps do not originate from the Barkhausen effect, as this effect would result in M jumps appearing at random values of H. When the system size of a sample becomes smaller, the features of the Barkhausen effect are suppressed. Second, as for the successive jumps observ...

Investigation of structural changes in chiral magnet Cr1∕3NbS2 under application of pressure

We perform structural analysis experiments on the chiral magnet Cr1∕3NbS2, in which Cr3+ ions are inserted between hexagonal NbS2 layers. The noncentrosymmetrical nature of the inserted Cr3+ appears as a distorted CrS6 octahedron. Under the application of hydrostatic pressure, the lattice shrinks significantly along the c-axis rather than the a-axis. However, at a pressure P of approximately 3–4 GPa, a kink in the rate of decrease in the lattice parameters is observed, and the slight movement of a Nb atom along the c-axis brings about a decrease in the distortion of the CrS6 octahedron. This structural change qualitatively suggests a decrease in the strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (D-M) interaction. Under hydrostatic pressure, the magnetic ordering temperature TC decreases, and dTC/dP exhibits a slight change at around 3 GPa. A series of experiments indicates that the change in the structural symmetry of the CrS6 octahedron influences the exchange network between Cr3+ ions as well as the D-M interac...

Multiple spectra of electron spin resonance in chiral molecule-based magnets networked by a single chiral ligand

A molecule-based magnet [Cr(CN)6][Mn(R/S)-pnH(H2O)](H2O) (termed R/S-GN) is a chiral crystal without an inversion center and mirror reflection, and its structural network is constructed using a chiral ligand diaminopropane (R/S)-pn. In S-GN, multiple spectra of ESR were observed below the magnetic ordering temperature by Morgunov et al. [Phys. Rev. B 77, 184419 (2008)]. They concluded that the phenomenon at the high field side occurred because the incommensurate magnetic structure resulted in a length-controllable superlattice of domain walls (the so-called chiral soliton lattice, CSL) under a dc magnetic field H applied perpendicular to the magnetic chiral axis. However, there multiple spectra were observed even for H nearly parallel to the chiral axis, a-axis, and their interpretation is unreasonable. Thus, we conducted an X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement of R-GN under conditions similar to those of their experiment and performed Fourier spectrum analyses for the data of R-GN as an appro...

Contactless electrical conductivity measurement of metallic submicron-grain material: Application to the study of aluminum with severe plastic deformation

We measured the electrical conductivity σ of aluminum specimen consisting of submicron-grains by observing the AC magnetic susceptibility resulting from the eddy current. By using a commercial platform for magnetic measurement, contactless measurement of the relative electrical conductivity σn of a nonmagnetic metal is possible over a wide temperature (T) range. By referring to σ at room temperature, obtained by the four-terminal method, σn(T) was transformed into σ(T). This approach is useful for cylinder specimens, in which the estimation of the radius and/or volume is difficult. An experiment in which aluminum underwent accumulative roll bonding, which is a severe plastic deformation process, validated this method of evaluating σ as a function of the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries.

Study of Magnetic Domain Dynamics Using Nonlinear Magnetic Responses: Magnetic Diagnostics of the Itinerant Magnet MnP

The nonlinear and linear magnetic responses to an ac magnetic field H are useful for the study of the magnetic dynamics of both magnetic domains and their constituent spins. In particular, the third-harmonic magnetic response M3ω reflects the dynamics of magnetic domains. Furthermore, by considering the ac magnetic response as a function of H, we can evaluate the degree of magnetic nonlinearity, which is closely related to M3ω. In this study, a series of approaches was used to examine the itinerant magnet MnP, in which both ferromagnetic and helical phases are present. On the basis of this investigation, we systematize the diagnostic approach to evaluating nonlinearity in magnetic responses.

Contactless measurement of electrical conductivity for bulk nanostructured silver prepared by high-pressure torsion: A study of the dissipation process of giant strain

We measured the electrical conductivity of bulk nanostructured silver prepared by high-pressure torsion (HPT) in a contactless manner by observing the AC magnetic susceptibility resulting from the eddy current, so that we could quantitatively analyze the dissipation process of the residual strain with sufficient time resolution as a function of temperature T and initial shear strain γ. The HPT process was performed at room temperature under a pressure of 6 GPa for revolutions N = 0–5, and we targeted a wide range of residual shear strains. The contactless measurement without electrode preparation enabled us to investigate both the fast and slow dissipation processes of the residual strain with sufficient time resolution, so that a systematic study of these processes became possible. The changes in the electrical conductivity as a function of N at room temperature were indeed consistent with changes in the Vickers microhardness; furthermore, they were also related to changes in structural parameters such a...

Large enhancement of superconducting transition temperature in single-element superconducting rhenium by shear strain.

Finding a physical approach for increasing the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) is a challenge in the field of material science. Shear strain effects on the superconductivity of rhenium were investigated using magnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and first-principles calculations. A large shear strain reduces the grain size and simultaneously expands the unit cells, resulting in an increase in Tc. Here we show that this shear strain approach is a new method for enhancing Tc and differs from that using hydrostatic strain. The enhancement of Tc is explained by an increase in net electron–electron coupling rather than a change in the density of states near the Fermi level. The shear strain effect in rhenium could be a successful example of manipulating Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer-type Cooper pairing, in which the unit cell volumes are indeed a key parameter.

High pressure effects on isotropic Nd2Fe14B magnet accompanying change in coercive field

We investigated the effects of hydrostatic pressure on an isotropic Nd2Fe14B magnet (the exact chemical formula is Nd2.0Fe14.1B) consisting of nanocrystals, with the size of approximately 30 nm, by magnetization measurements at pressures (Ps) up to 9.3 GPa and structural analyses up to 4.3 GPa. Magnetization curves were measured by using a miniature diamond anvil cell made of Ti alloy with spatially uniform magnetization. The initial value of coercive field Hc at 300 K is 840 kA/m (=10.6 kOe), and Hc initially increases to approximately 1180 kA/m (=15.0 kOe) almost linearly against the pressure. The increase in Hc, however, saturates at around P = 3 GPa. The change in Hc is understood by the decrease in the saturation magnetization Ms within the framework of the constant anisotropy of the single domain phase. The crystalline strain increases for P < 1 GPa. Afterward, the crystalline size (D) starts to decrease with increasing pressure, and the reduction tends to saturate at above approximately 3 GPa. Fur...

Effects of dynamic stress in magnetic superlattice of a monoaxial chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2

A monoaxial chiral magnet forms a kind of spin superlattice structure, termed chiral soliton lattice (CSL), by the application of a magnetic field H perpendicular to a helical chiral axis. It has been reported that the CSL accompanies the magnetoresistance effect as well as a discrete change in magnetization and magnetoresistance. In order to verify the effect of the structural modification on the CSL state, we measured the magnetoresistance under the dynamic stress (DS) with a frequency of the order of MHz, which was applied by a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator. The steady application of DS while decreasing H resulted in a suppression of the insertion of chiral soliton. On the other hand, the application of a pulse-like DS while H decreased assisted the insertion of chiral soliton. These results demonstrate that DS modifies the spin structure of the monoaxial chiral magnet, and we can therefore change the activation energy for the insertion of chiral soliton while H is decreased.