R. S. Perry

Dirac Strings and Magnetic Monopoles in the Spin Ice Dy2Ti2O7

Magnetic Monopoles Magnets come with a north and a south pole. Despite being predicted to exist, searches in astronomy and in high-energy particle physics experiments for magnetic monopoles (either north or south on their own) have defied observation. Theoretical work in condensed-matter systems has predicted that spin-ice structures may harbor such elusive particles (see the Perspective by Gingras). Fennell et al. (p. 415, published online 3 September) and Morris et al. (p. 411, published online 3 September) used polarized neutron scattering to probe the spin structure forming in two spin-ice compounds—Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7—and present results in support of the presence of magnetic monopoles in both materials. Neutron scattering measurements on two spin-ice compounds show evidence for magnetic monopoles. Sources of magnetic fields—magnetic monopoles—have so far proven elusive as elementary particles. Condensed-matter physicists have recently proposed several scenarios of emergent quasiparticles resembling monopoles. A particularly simple proposition pertains to spin ice on the highly frustrated pyrochlore lattice. The spin-ice state is argued to be well described by networks of aligned dipoles resembling solenoidal tubes—classical, and observable, versions of a Dirac string. Where these tubes end, the resulting defects look like magnetic monopoles. We demonstrated, by diffuse neutron scattering, the presence of such strings in the spin ice dysprosium titanate (Dy2Ti2O7). This is achieved by applying a symmetry-breaking magnetic field with which we can manipulate the density and orientation of the strings. In turn, heat capacity is described by a gas of magnetic monopoles interacting via a magnetic Coulomb interaction.

Metamagnetism and Critical Fluctuations in High Quality Single Crystals of the Bilayer Ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7

We report the results of low temperature transport, specific heat, and magnetization measurements on high quality single crystals of the bilayer perovskite Sr3Ru2O7, which is a close relative of the unconventional superconductor Sr2RuO4. Metamagnetism is observed, and transport and thermodynamic evidence for associated critical fluctuations is presented. These relatively unusual fluctuations might be pictured as variations in the Fermi surface topography itself.

Similarity of Scattering Rates in Metals Showing T-Linear Resistivity

Quantum Critical Scattering The temperature (T) dependence of the electrical resistivity offers clues about the behavior of electrical carriers. One of the more puzzling observations is the T-linear resistivity found in systems known or suspected to exhibit quantum criticality, such as cuprate and organic superconductors, and heavy fermion materials; the origin of this behavior remains elusive. Bruin et al. (p. 804) find that the ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7 also exhibits T-linear resistivity in the vicinity of its quantum critical point, and that its scattering rate per kelvin is approximately given by the inverse of a characteristic time made up of the Planck and Boltzmann constants. A comprehensive analysis of other systems with T-linear resistivity, including ordinary metals at high temperatures, indicates that their scattering rates are similarly close to the characteristic rate. That the rates are similar across a wide range of materials with diverse microscopic scattering mechanisms may indicate universal behavior. Transport measurements show little variation across metals with resistivity that scales linearly with temperature. Many exotic compounds, such as cuprate superconductors and heavy fermion materials, exhibit a linear in temperature (T) resistivity, the origin of which is not well understood. We found that the resistivity of the quantum critical metal Sr3Ru2O7 is also T-linear at the critical magnetic field of 7.9 T. Using the precise existing data for the Fermi surface topography and quasiparticle velocities of Sr3Ru2O7, we show that in the region of the T-linear resistivity, the scattering rate per kelvin is well approximated by the ratio of the Boltzmann constant to the Planck constant divided by 2π. Extending the analysis to a number of other materials reveals similar results in the T-linear region, in spite of large differences in the microscopic origins of the scattering.

Fermi Surface and van Hove Singularities in the Itinerant Metamagnet Sr3Ru2O7

The low-energy electronic structure of the itinerant metamagnet Sr3Ru2O7 is investigated by angle-resolved photoemission and density-functional calculations. We find well-defined quasiparticle bands with resolution-limited linewidths and Fermi velocities up to an order of magnitude lower than in single layer Sr2RuO4. The complete topography, the cyclotron masses, and the orbital character of the Fermi surface are determined, in agreement with bulk sensitive de Haas-van Alphen measurements. An analysis of the dxy band dispersion reveals a complex density of states with van Hove singularities near the Fermi level, a situation which is favorable for magnetic instabilities.

Multiple first-order metamagnetic transitions and Quantum oscillations in ultrapure Sr3Ru2O7

We present measurements on ultraclean single crystals of the bilayered ruthenate metal Sr3Ru2O7, which has a magnetic-field-tuned quantum critical point. Quantum oscillations of differing frequencies can be seen in the resistivity both below and above its metamagnetic transition. This frequency shift corresponds to a small change in the Fermi surface volume that is qualitatively consistent with the small moment change in the magnetization across the metamagnetic transition. Very near the metamagnetic field, unusual behavior is seen. There is a strong enhancement of the resistivity in a narrow field window, with a minimum in the resistivity as a function of temperature below 1 K that becomes more pronounced as the disorder level decreases. The region of anomalous behavior is bounded at low temperatures by two first-order phase transitions. The implications of the results are discussed.

Quantum oscillations near the metamagnetic transition in Sr3Ru2O7

We report detailed investigation of quantum oscillations in Sr3Ru2O7, observed inductively (the de Haas-van Alphen effect) and thermally (the magnetocaloric effect). Working at fields from 3 T to 18 T allowed us to straddle the metamagnetic transition region and probe the low- and high-field Fermi liquids. The observed frequencies are strongly field-dependent in the vicinity of the metamagnetic transition, and there is evidence for magnetic breakdown. We also present the results of a comprehensive rotation study. The most surprising result concerns the field dependence of the measured quasiparticle masses. Contrary to conclusions previously drawn by some of us as a result of a study performed with a much poorer signal to noise ratio, none of the five Fermi surface branches for which we have good field-dependent data gives evidence for a strong field dependence of the mass. The implications of these experimental findings are discussed.

Collapse of the Mott Gap and Emergence of a Nodal Liquid in Lightly Doped Sr 2 IrO 4

We report angle resolved photoemission experiments on the electron doped Heisenberg antiferromagnet (Sr(1-x)La(x))(2)IrO(4). For a doping level of x=0.05, we find an unusual metallic state with coherent nodal excitations and an antinodal pseudogap bearing strong similarities with underdoped cuprates. This state emerges from a rapid collapse of the Mott gap with doping resulting in a large underlying Fermi surface that is backfolded by a (π,π) reciprocal lattice vector which we attribute to the intrinsic structural distortion of Sr(2)IrO(4).

Quantum Oscillations in the Anomalous Phase in Sr3Ru2O7

We report measurements of quantum oscillations detected in the putative nematic phase of Sr3Ru2O7. Improvements in sample purity enabled the resolution of small amplitude de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations between two first order metamagnetic transitions delimiting the phase. Two distinct frequencies were observed, whose amplitudes follow the normal Lifshitz-Kosevich profile. Variations of the dHvA frequencies are explained in terms of a chemical potential shift produced by reaching a peak in the density of states, and an anomalous field dependence of the oscillatory amplitude provides information on domains.

Angular dependence of the magnetic susceptibility in the itinerant metamagnet Sr3Ru2O7

We report the results of a study of the differential magnetic susceptibility of Sr 3Ru2O7 as a function of temperature and magnetic fields applied at a series of angles to the ab plane. By analyzing the real and imaginary parts of the susceptibility, we conclude that the field angle acts as a continuous tuning parameter for the critical end point to a line of first-order metamagnetic phase transitions. The end point sits at ’1.25 K for fields applied in the ab plane, and is depressed to below 50 mK when the field is aligned within 10° of thec axis.

Fermi Surface and Quasiparticle Excitations of Sr2RhO4

The electronic structure of the layered 4d transition metal oxide Sr2RhO4 is investigated by angle resolved photoemission. We find well-defined quasiparticle excitations with a highly anisotropic dispersion, suggesting a quasi-two-dimensional Fermi-liquid-like ground state. Markedly different from the isostructural Sr2RuO4, only two bands with dominant Rh 4dxz,zy character contribute to the Fermi surface. A quantitative analysis of the photoemission quasiparticle band structure is in excellent agreement with bulk data. In contrast, it is found that state-of-the-art density functional calculations in the local density approximation differ significantly from the experimental findings.