Studies on the Magnetic Ground State of a Spin Möbius Strip

Here we report the synthesis, structure and detailed characterisation of three n-membered oxovanadium rings, Nan [(V=O)n Nan (H2 O)n (α, β, or γ-CD)2 ]⋅m H2 O (n=6, 7, or 8), prepared by the reactions of (V=O)SO4 ⋅x H2 O with α, β, or γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) and NaOH in water. Their alternating heterometallic vanadium/sodium cyclic core structures were sandwiched between two CD moieties such that O-Na-O groups separated the neighbouring vanadyl ions. Antiferromagnetic interactions between the S=1/2 vanadyl ions led to S=0 ground states for the even-membered rings, but to two quasi-degenerate S=1/2 states for the spin-frustrated heptanuclear cluster.

Electronic Structure of a Mixed-Metal Fluoride-Centered Triangle Complex: A Potential Qubit Component

A novel fluoride-centered triangular-bridged carboxylate complex, [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6(HO2C(t)Bu)3] (1), is reported. Simple postsynthetic substitution of the terminal pivalic acids in 1 with pyridine and 4-methylpyridine led to the isolation of [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6(C5H5N)3] (2) and [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6((4-CH3)C5H4N)3] (3). Structural and magnetic characterizations carried out on the series reveal a dominating antiferromagnetic interaction between the nickel and chromium centers leading to an S = (1)/2 ground state with a very unusual value of geff = 2.48.

Three-dimensional charge density wave order in YBa2Cu3O6.67 at high magnetic fields

Charge density wave (CDW) correlations have been shown to universally exist in cuprate superconductors. However, their nature at high fields inferred from nuclear magnetic resonance is distinct from that measured with x-ray scattering at zero and low fields. We combined a pulsed magnet with an x-ray free-electron laser to characterize the CDW in YBa2Cu3O6.67 via x-ray scattering in fields of up to 28 tesla. While the zero-field CDW order, which develops at temperatures below ~150 kelvin, is essentially two dimensional, at lower temperature and beyond 15 tesla, another three-dimensionally ordered CDW emerges. The field-induced CDW appears around the zero-field superconducting transition temperature; in contrast, the incommensurate in-plane ordering vector is field-independent. This implies that the two forms of CDW and high-temperature superconductivity are intimately linked.

Spin-stripe phase in a frustrated zigzag spin-1/2 chain

Motifs of periodic modulations are encountered in a variety of natural systems, where at least two rival states are present. In strongly correlated electron systems, such behaviour has typically been associated with competition between short- and long-range interactions, for example, between exchange and dipole-dipole interactions in the case of ferromagnetic thin films. Here we show that spin-stripe textures may develop also in antiferromagnets, where long-range dipole-dipole magnetic interactions are absent. A comprehensive analysis of magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat and neutron diffraction measurements unveils β-TeVO4 as a nearly perfect realization of a frustrated (zigzag) ferromagnetic spin-1/2 chain. Notably, a narrow spin-stripe phase develops at elevated magnetic fields due to weak frustrated short-range interchain exchange interactions, possibly assisted by the symmetry-allowed electric polarization. This concept provides an alternative route for the stripe formation in strongly correlated electron systems and may help understanding of other widespread, yet still elusive, stripe-related phenomena.

A ferromagnetically coupled Fe42 cyanide-bridged nanocage

Self-assembly of artificial nanoscale units into superstructures is a prevalent topic in science. In biomimicry, scientists attempt to develop artificial self-assembled nanoarchitectures. However, despite extensive efforts, the preparation of nanoarchitectures with superior physical properties remains a challenge. For example, one of the major topics in the field of molecular magnetism is the development of high-spin (HS) molecules. Here, we report a cyanide-bridged magnetic nanocage composed of 18 HS iron(III) ions and 24 low-spin iron(II) ions. The magnetic iron(III) centres are ferromagnetically coupled, yielding the highest ground-state spin number (S=45) of any molecule reported to date.

One area of interest in the field of molecular magnetism is the development of high-spin molecules. Here, the authors report a cyanide-bridged nanocage consisting of 18 high-spin iron(III) ions ferromagnetically coupled through 24 low-spin iron(II) ions, with a ground state spin of S=45.

Single-molecule magnet involving strong exchange coupling in terbium(iii) complex with 2,2′-bipyridin-6-yl tert-butyl nitroxide

Intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction in Tb-6bpyNO was confirmed by comparison with the magnetic properties of Tb-6bpyCO and Y-6bpyNO. Tb-6bpyNO showed a hysteresis loop below 1.6 K, but Tb-6bpyCO did not behave as a single-molecule magnet.

Rapid scanning terahertz time-domain magnetospectroscopy with a table-top repetitive pulsed magnet

We have performed terahertz time-domain magnetospectroscopy by combining a rapid scanning terahertz time-domain spectrometer based on the electronically controlled optical sampling method with a table-top minicoil pulsed magnet capable of producing magnetic fields up to 30 T. We demonstrate the capability of this system by measuring coherent cyclotron resonance oscillations in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs and interference-induced terahertz transmittance modifications in a magnetoplasma in lightly doped n-InSb.

Neutron Diffractions in Pulsed High Magnetic Fields

In frustrated magnets, varieties of exotic states appear under high magnetic fields. Examples are found as complex magnetic phase diagram in multi-ferroics, a quantum phase transition in strongly correlated 5f intermetallics and quantum magnetic plateau in low-dimensional magnets. The most important basis to understand such exotic phases is the determination of their magnetic structures. Neutron diffraction is the unique and the direct method for this purpose. However, experiments in strong magnetic fields have been quite limited for technical difficulties. We have developed the techniques to combine pulsed high magnetic fields with neutron diffractions. The use of pulsed magnets have broken the technical limit of 17.5 T achieved by superconducting magnets and enabled us to access the extremely high magnetic fields of 30-40 T. At present, we have four different lines of pulsed magnet devices for practical experiments as follows. 1. Compact potable 30 T horizontal solenoid magnet system combined with an orange cryostat, 2. Compact 40 T horizontal solenoid with a custom cryostat, 3. Compact 25 T vertical split-pair magnet with a custom cryostat, 4. Middle size horizontal 50 T solenoid magnet with a custom cryostat. The temperature as low as 1.7 K is possible for all of those systems. The compact 30 T system is used in ILL, SNS, ISIS and JRR3. Upgraded 40 T version is installed in ISIS and ILL. The split-pair and the middle size system are used in J-PARC. In reactor sources, a very week magnetic peak can be detected for low background. A continuous field variation of the peak intensity is monitored by means of time-resolved technique. In spallation sources, multiple Bragg-peaks are captured by using the white beam Laue method. It is very useful to trace the change of magnetic wave vectors. We report the overview of the recent activities examining magnetic phase diagrams of multi-ferroic compounds and URu2Si2 with a multi-step meta-magnetic transition.

Spin-1/2 frustrated zigzag chain compound beta-TeVO4

We report on exotic magnetic ordered states and phase diagram of frustrated spin chain compound beta-TeVO4 studied by specific heat, neutron diffraction, and high-field magnetization measurements. This compound, comprising weakly coupled infinite chains of VO5 pyramids sharing corners, is proposed to be a new realization of the zigzag J1-J2 model [1]. In qualitative agreement with this proposal, we found an incommensurate, ICM, magnetic order with q1=(-0.208 0 0.436) below TN=4.65 K and a series of transitions between consecutive ICM magnetic phases, exhibiting pronounced temperature, T, and magnetic field, H, dependences. Of special interest is a long-scale modulated phase with high-order satellite magnetic reflections (fig. 1) that might reflect the formation of magnetic solitons [2] existing in a narrow T,H-range.

Carbazole angular dioxygenation and mineralization by bacteria isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated tropical African soil

Four bacterial strains isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in Lagos, Nigeria, displayed extensive degradation abilities on carbazole, an N-heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Physicochemical analyses of the sampling sites (ACPP, MWO, NESU) indicate gross pollution of the soils with a high hydrocarbon content (157,067.9 mg/kg) and presence of heavy metals. Phylogenetic analysis of the four strains indicated that they were identified as Achromobacter sp. strain SL1, Pseudomonas sp. strain SL4, Microbacterium esteraromaticum strain SL6, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain BA. The rates of degradation of carbazole by the four isolates during 30 days of incubation were 0.057, 0.062, 0.036, and 0.050 mg L(-1) h(-1) for strains SL1, SL4, SL6, and BA. Gas chromatographic (GC) analyses of residual carbazole after 30 days of incubation revealed that 81.3, 85, 64.4, and 76 % of 50 mg l(-1) carbazole were degraded by strains SL1, SL4, SL6, and BA, respectively. GC-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of the extracts from the growing and resting cells of strains SL1, SL4, and SL6 cultured on carbazole showed detection of anthranilic acid and catechol while these metabolites were not detected in strain BA under the same conditions. This study has established for the first time carbazole angular dioxygenation and mineralization by isolates from African environment.

A table-top, repetitive pulsed magnet for nonlinear and ultrafast spectroscopy in high magnetic fields up to 30 T

We have developed a mini-coil pulsed magnet system with direct optical access, ideally suited for nonlinear and ultrafast spectroscopy studies of materials in high magnetic fields up to 30 T. The apparatus consists of a small coil in a liquid nitrogen cryostat coupled with a helium flow cryostat to provide sample temperatures down to below 10 K. Direct optical access to the sample is achieved with the use of easily interchangeable windows separated by a short distance of ~135 mm on either side of the coupled cryostats with numerical apertures of 0.20 and 0.03 for measurements employing the Faraday geometry. As a demonstration, we performed time-resolved and time-integrated photoluminescence measurements as well as transmission measurements on InGaAs quantum wells.

Magnetization process and collective excitations in the S=1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9

We have performed high-field magnetization and electronic spin resonance (ESR) measurements on Ba3CoSb2O9 single crystals, which approximates the two-dimensional (2D) S=1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet. For an applied magnetic field H parallel to the ab plane, the entire magnetization curve including the plateau at one-third of the saturation magnetization (Ms) is in excellent agreement with the results of theoretical calculations except a small step anomaly near (3/5)Ms, indicative of a theoretically undiscovered quantum phase transition. However, for H∥c, the magnetization curve exhibits a cusp near Ms/3 owing to the weak easy-plane anisotropy and the 2D quantum fluctuation. From a detailed analysis of the collective ESR modes observed in the ordered state, combined with the magnetization process, we have determined all the magnetic parameters including the interlayer and anisotropic exchange interactions.

Magnetic structure of phase II in U(Ru(0.96)Rh(0.04))2Si2 determined by neutron diffraction under pulsed high magnetic fields

We report neutron diffraction measurements on U(Ru(0.96)Rh(0.04))(2)Si(2) single crystal under pulsed high magnetic fields up to 30 T applied along the tetragonal c axis. The high-field experiments revealed that the field-induced phase II above 26 T corresponds to a commensurate up-up-down ferrimagnetic structure characterized by the wave vector q=(2/3,0,0) with the magnetic moments parallel to the c axis, which naturally explains the one-third magnetization plateau and the substantially changed Fermi surface in phase II. This a-axis modulated magnetic structure indicates that the phase II near the hidden order phase is closely related to the characteristic incommensurate magnetic fluctuations at Q(1)=(0.6,0,0) in the pure system URu(2)Si(2), in contrast to the pressure-induced antiferromagnetic order at Q(0)=(1,0,0).

Synthesis and magnetic properties of a new series of triangular-lattice magnets, Na2BaMV2O8 (M = Ni, Co, and Mn)

A new series of triangular-lattice magnets, Na(2)BaMV(2)O(8) (M = Ni, Co, and Mn), are reported. These three compounds crystallize with the Ag(2)BaMnV(2)O(8) type structure, where the magnetic M(2+) ions form a two-dimensional triangular lattice. The magnitude of the exchange interactions in these compounds is moderate because the nonmagnetic VO(4) tetrahedra interrupt direct connections between MO(6) octahedra. The magnetic susceptibilities of Na(2)BaNiV(2)O(8) and Na(2)BaCoV(2)O(8) reveal ferromagnetic transitions at 8.4 and 3.9 K, respectively. In contrast, the magnetic susceptibility of Na(2)BaMnV(2)O(8) exhibits a broad maximum at around 2.3 K, which suggests antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbour interactions and a significant effect of geometric frustration. The specific heat and magnetization curve of Na(2)BaMnV(2)O(8) indicate that magnetic long-range ordering appears below 1.5 K.

Susceptibility anisotropy in an iron arsenide superconductor revealed by x-ray diffraction in pulsed magnetic fields

In addition to unconventional high-T(c) superconductivity, the iron arsenides exhibit strong magnetoelastic coupling and a notable electronic anisotropy within the a-b plane. We relate these properties by studying underdoped Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 by x-ray diffraction in pulsed magnetic fields up to 27.5 T. We exploit magnetic detwinning effects to demonstrate anisotropy in the in-plane susceptibility, which develops at the structural phase transition despite the absence of magnetic order. The degree of detwinning increases smoothly with decreasing temperature, and a single-domain condition is realized over a range of field and temperature. At low temperatures we observe an activated behavior, with a large hysteretic remnant effect. Detwinning was not observed within the superconducting phase for accessible magnetic fields.

A single-solenoid pulsed-magnet system for single-crystal scattering studies

We present a pulsed-magnet system that enables x-ray single-crystal diffraction in addition to powder and spectroscopic studies with the magnetic field applied on or close to the scattering plane. The apparatus consists of a single large-bore solenoid, cooled by liquid nitrogen. A second independent closed-cycle cryostat is used for cooling samples near liquid helium temperatures. Pulsed magnetic fields close to ~30 T with a zero-to-peak-field rise time of ~2.9 ms are generated by discharging a 40 kJ capacitor bank into the magnet coil. The unique characteristic of this instrument is the preservation of maximum scattering angle (~23.6°) on the entrance and exit sides of the magnet bore by virtue of a novel double-funnel insert. This instrument will facilitate x-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies that are impractical, if not impossible, to perform using split-pair and narrow-opening solenoid magnets. Furthermore, it offers a practical solution for preserving optical access in future higher-field pulsed magnets.

Coherent manipulation of electron spins in the {Cu3} spin triangle complex impregnated in nanoporous silicon

We report on coherent manipulation of electron spins in an antiferromagnetically coupled spin triangle {Cu3-X} (X=As, Sb) impregnated in freestanding nanoporous silicon (NS) by using 240 GHz microwave pulses. Rabi oscillations are observed and the spin coherence time is found to be T(2)=1066 ns at 1.5 K. This demonstrates that the {Cu3-X}:NS hybrid material provides a promising scheme for implementing spin-based quantum gates. By measuring the spin relaxation times of samples with different symmetries and environments we give evidence that a spin chirality is the main decoherence source of spin triangle molecules.

Time-resolved one-dimensional detection of x-ray scattering in pulsed magnetic fields

We have developed an application of a one-dimensional micro-strip detector for capturing x-ray diffraction data in pulsed magnetic fields. This detector consists of a large array of 50 μm-wide Si strips with a full-frame read out at 20 kHz. Its use substantially improves data-collection efficiency and quality as compared to point detectors, because diffraction signals are recorded along an arc in reciprocal space in a time-resolved manner. By synchronizing with pulsed fields, the entire field dependence of a two-dimensional swath of reciprocal space may be determined using a small number of field pulses.

Neutron Laue diffraction study on the magnetic phase diagram of multiferroic MnWO4 under pulsed high magnetic fields

We have combined time-of-flight neutron Laue diffraction and pulsed high magnetic fields at the Spallation Neutron Source to study the phase diagram of the multiferroic material MnWO(4). The control of the field-pulse timing enabled an exploration of magnetic Bragg scattering through the time dependence of both the neutron wavelength and the pulsed magnetic field. This allowed us to observe several magnetic Bragg peaks in different field-induced phases of MnWO(4) with a single instrument configuration. These phases were not previously amenable to neutron diffraction studies due to the large fields involved.

Level crossings and zero-field splitting in the {Cr8}-cubane spin cluster studied using inelastic neutron scattering and magnetization

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) in variable magnetic field and high-field magnetization measurements in the millikelvin temperature range were performed to gain insight into the low-energy magnetic excitation spectrum and the field-induced level crossings in the molecular spin cluster {Cr(8)}-cubane. These complementary techniques provide consistent estimates of the lowest level-crossing field. The overall features of the experimental data are explained using an isotropic Heisenberg model, based on three distinct exchange interactions linking the eight Cr(III) paramagnetic centers (spins s = 3/2), that is supplemented with a relatively large molecular magnetic anisotropy term for the lowest S = 1 multiplet. It is noted that the existence of the anisotropy is clearly evident from the magnetic field dependence of the excitations in the INS measurements, while the magnetization measurements are not sensitive to its effects.