No Arabic abstract
We use neutron scattering to investigate spin excitations in Sr(Co$_{1-x}$Ni$_{x})_2$As$_2$, which has a $c$-axis incommensurate helical structure of the two-dimensional (2D) in-plane ferromagnetic (FM) ordered layers for $0.013leq x leq 0.25$. By comparing the wave vector and energy dependent spin excitations in helical ordered Sr(Co$_{0.9}$Ni$_{0.1}$)$_2$As$_2$ and paramagnetic SrCo$_2$As$_2$, we find that Ni-doping, while increasing lattice disorder in Sr(Co$_{1-x}$Ni$_{x})_2$As$_2$, enhances quasi-2D FM spin fluctuations. However, our band structure calculations within the combined density functional theory and dynamic mean field theory (DFT+DMFT) failed to generate a correct incommensurate wave vector for the observed helical order from nested Fermi surfaces. Since transport measurements reveal increased in-plane and $c$-axis electrical resistivity with increasing Ni-doping and associated lattice disorder, we conclude that the helical magnetic order in Sr(Co$_{1-x}$Ni$_{x})_2$As$_2$ may arise from a quantum order-by-disorder mechanism through the itinerant electron mediated Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions.
In order to study the phase diagram from a microscopic viewpoint, we have measured wTF- and ZF-$mu^+$SR spectra for the Sr$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$Co$_2$P$_2$ powder samples with $x=0$, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, and 1. Due to a characteristic time window and spatial resolution of $mu^+$SR, the obtained phase diagram was found to be rather different from that determined by magnetization measurements. That is, as $x$ increases from 0, a Pauli-paramagnetic phase is observed even at the lowest $T$ measured (1.8~K) until $x=0.4$, then, a spin-glass like phase appears at $0.5leq xleq0.6$, and then, a phase with wide field distribution probably due to incommensurate AF order is detected for $x=0.8$, and finally, a commensurate $A$-type AF ordered phase (for $x=1$) is stabilized below $T_{rm N}sim80~$K. Such change is most likely reasonable and connected to the shrink of the $c$-axis length with $x$, which naturally enhances the magnetic interaction between the two adjacent Co planes.
Ba(Ni$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ is a structural homologue of the pnictide high temperature superconductor, Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$, in which the Fe atoms are replaced by Ni. Superconductivity is highly suppressed in this system, reaching a maximum $T_c$ = 2.3 K, compared to 24 K in its iron-based cousin, and the origin of this $T_c$ suppression is not known. Using x-ray scattering, we show that Ba(Ni$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ exhibits a unidirectional charge density wave (CDW) at its triclinic phase transition. The CDW is incommensurate, exhibits a sizable lattice distortion, and is accompanied by the appearance of $alpha$ Fermi surface pockets in photoemission [B. Zhou et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 035110 (2011)], suggesting it forms by an unconventional mechanism. Co doping suppresses the CDW, paralleling the behavior of antiferromagnetism in iron-based superconductors. Our study demonstrates that pnictide superconductors can exhibit competing CDW order, which may be the origin of $T_c$ suppression in this system.
We report an optimized chemical vapor transport method to grow single crystals of (Mn$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_2$P$_2$S$_6$ where x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 & 1. Single crystals up to 4,mm,$times$,3,mm,$times$,200,$mu$m were obtained by this method. As-grown crystals characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, and powder x-ray diffraction measurements. The structural characterization shows that all crystals crystallize in monoclinic symmetry with the space group $C2/m$ (No. 12). We have further investigated the magnetic properties of this series of single crystals. The magnetic measurements of the all as-grown single crystals show long-range antiferromagnetic order along all crystallographic principal axes. Overall, the Neel temperature TN is non-monotonous, with increasing $Ni^{2+}$ doping the temperature of the antiferromagnetic phase transition first decreases from 80 K for pristine Mn$_2$P$_2$S$_6$ (x = 0) up to x = 0.5, and then increases again to 155 K for pure Ni$_2$P$_2$S$_6$ (x = 1). The magnetic anisotropy switches from out-of-plane to in-plane as a function of composition in (Mn$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_2$P$_2$S$_6$ series. Transport studies under hydrostatic pressure on the parent compound Mn$_2$P$_2$S$_6$ evidence an insulator-metal transition at an applied critical pressure of ~22 GPa
We present evidence for nuclear spin-lattice relaxation driven by glassy nematic fluctuations in isovalent P-doped BaFe$_2$As$_2$ single crystals. Both the $^{75}$As and $^{31}$P sites exhibit stretched-exponential relaxation similar to the electron-doped systems. By comparing the hyperfine fields and the relaxation rates at these sites we find that the As relaxation cannot be explained solely in terms of magnetic spin fluctuations. We demonstrate that nematic fluctuations couple to the As nuclear quadrupolar moment and can explain the excess relaxation. These results suggest that glassy nematic dynamics are a universal phenomenon in the iron-based superconductors.
We report magnetotransport measurements and its scaling analysis for the optimally electron doped Sr(Fe${_{0.88}}$Co${_{0.12}}$)${_2}$As${_2}$ system. We pbserve that both the Kohlers and modified Kohlers scalings are violated. Interestingly, the Hall angle displays a quadratic temperature dependence similar to many cuprates and heavy fermion systems. The fact that this temperature dependence is seen in spite of the violation of modified Kohlers scaling suggests that the Hall angle and the magnetoresistance are not governed by the same scattering mechanism. We also observe a linear magnetoresistance in this system, which does not harbor a spin density wave ground state. Implcations of our observations are discussed in the context of spin fluctuations in strongly correlated electron systems.