RESUMEN
Magnetization reversal in ferro- and ferrimagnets is a well-known archetype of non-equilibrium processes, where the volume fractions of the oppositely magnetized domains vary and perfectly compensate each other at the coercive magnetic field. Here, we report on a fundamentally new pathway for magnetization reversal that is mediated by an antiferromagnetic state. Consequently, an atomic-scale compensation of the magnetization is realized at the coercive field, instead of the mesoscopic or macroscopic domain cancellation in canonical reversal processes. We demonstrate this unusual magnetization reversal on the Zn-doped polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8. Hidden behind the conventional ferrimagnetic hysteresis loop, the surprising emergence of the antiferromagnetic phase at the coercive fields is disclosed by a sharp peak in the field-dependence of the electric polarization. In addition, at the magnetization reversal our THz spectroscopy studies reveal the reappearance of the magnon mode that is only present in the pristine antiferromagnetic state. According to our microscopic calculations, this unusual process is governed by the dominant intralayer coupling, strong easy-axis anisotropy and spin fluctuations, which result in a complex interplay between the ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. Such antiferro-state-mediated reversal processes offer novel concepts for magnetization control, and may also emerge for other ferroic orders.
RESUMEN
Frustrated magnets provide a promising avenue for realizing exotic quantum states of matter, such as spin liquids and spin ice or complex spin molecules. Under an external magnetic field, frustrated magnets can exhibit fractional magnetization plateaus related to definite spin patterns stabilized by field-induced lattice distortions. Magnetization and ultrasound experiments in MnCr2S4 up to 60 T reveal two fascinating features: (i) an extremely robust magnetization plateau with an unusual spin structure and (ii) two intermediate phases, indicating possible realizations of supersolid phases. The magnetization plateau characterizes fully polarized chromium moments, without any contributions from manganese spins. At 40 T, the middle of the plateau, a regime evolves, where sound waves propagate almost without dissipation. The external magnetic field exactly compensates the Cr-Mn exchange field and decouples Mn and Cr sublattices. In analogy to predictions of quantum lattice-gas models, the changes of the spin order of the manganese ions at the phase boundaries of the magnetization plateau are interpreted as transitions to supersolid phases.
RESUMEN
The pentanuclear Co(II) complex [Co5Tp*4(Me2bta)6] containing N-donor ligands (5,6-dimethyl benzotriazolate; Me2bta6) and N-donor capping ligands (tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate; Tp*) was prepared by a simple and efficient ligand exchange reaction from [Co5Cl4(Me2bta)6] and tetra-n-butyl ammonium tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate. Compared to the precursor complex [Co5Cl4(Me2bta)6], which contains one Co(II) ion in octahedral and four Co(II) ions in tetrahedral coordination geometry, the title compound features all five Co(II) ions in an octahedral coordination environment while keeping a high complex symmetry. This results in modified properties including improved solubility and distinct magnetic behavior as compared to the precursor complex. The molecular structure and phase purity of the compound was verified by XRPD, UV-vis, ESI-MS, IR, and NMR measurements. Thermal stability of the compound was determined via TGA. The magnetic properties of here reported novel complex [Co5Tp*4(Me2bta)6] as well as its precursor [Co5Cl4(Me2bta)6] were examined in detail via ESR and SQUID measurements, which indicated weak anti-ferromagnetic exchange interactions between high-spin Co(II) centers at T < 20 and 50 K, respectively.
RESUMEN
The emergence of nematic electronic states accompanied by a structural phase transition is a recurring theme in many correlated electron materials, including the high-temperature copper oxide- and iron-based superconductors. We provide evidence for nematic electronic states in the iron-chalcogenide superconductor FeSe0.4Te0.6 from quasi-particle scattering detected in spectroscopic maps. The symmetry-breaking states persist above T c into the normal state. We interpret the scattering patterns by comparison with quasi-particle interference patterns obtained from a tight-binding model, accounting for orbital ordering. The relation to superconductivity and the influence on the coherence length are discussed.
RESUMEN
Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) has been used extensively to study magnetic properties of nanostructures. Using SP-STM to visualize magnetic order in strongly correlated materials on an atomic scale is highly desirable, but challenging. We achieved this goal in iron tellurium (Fe(1+ y)Te), the nonsuperconducting parent compound of the iron chalcogenides, by using a STM tip with a magnetic cluster at its apex. Our images of the magnetic structure reveal that the magnetic order in the monoclinic phase is a unidirectional stripe order; in the orthorhombic phase at higher excess iron concentration (y > 0.12), a transition to a phase with coexisting magnetic orders in both directions is observed. It may be possible to generalize the technique to other high-temperature superconductor families, such as the cuprates.
RESUMEN
Previous work on the composition of the extracellular matrix of germlings of the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea demonstrated the presence of carbohydrate, protein, and simple lipids; which, together, comprised 50-60% of the dry weight. Here we show that most of the remaining mass of the extracellular matrix consists of a chemically inert dark pigment with the electron paramagnetic resonance characteristics of a melanin. Scanning electron micrographs of the purified pigment, and transmission electron micrographs of thin sections made using the pigment indicate that it has a filamentous structure. We conclude that melanin is an important component of the extracellular matrix of germlings of B. cinerea. This is the first report of a melanin present in the extracellular matrix of a plant pathogenic fungus.