Proximity of superconducting LaCoSi to a ferromagnetic quantum critical point.

The physical characteristics of the 4 K superconductor LaCoSi are studied using first-principles density functional theory inside the local density approximation (LDA) framework. We discover that LDA predicts a ferromagnetic ground state for LaCoSi, which is in disagreement with the experiments. Even though LDA rarely overestimates the local magnetic moment associated with the magnetic ion in itinerant systems, such occurrences highlight the significance of spin fluctuations in the system. In this view, the Ginzburg-Landau free energy expansion and its variation as a function of pressure are used to calculate the amplitude of the zero-point fluctuations. Based on our calculations, we contend that the superconductivity associated with LaCoSi is closely related to a ferromagnetic quantum critical point, making it an intriguing candidate for the category of quantum materials.

A spin-orbit coupling-induced two-dimensional electron gas in BiAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures.

Both LaAlO3 and BiAlO3 are isostructural, isoelectronic and band insulators. Therefore, in analogy to the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure, a quasi two dimensional electron gas (q-2DEG) could be anticipated in BiAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. Our density functional theory based scalar relativistic calculations show that BiAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures remain insulating for a BiAlO3 film thickness up to 5 unit cells. However, with spin orbit coupling included in the crystal Hamiltonian, we find a thickness dependent insulator to metal transition for BiAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. However, unlike the Ti3+/Ti4+ electronic reconstruction in LaAlO3/SrTiO3, the conductivity in BiAlO3/SrTiO3 is found to originate from the subsurface Bi 6p states. The results suggest that the properties of q-2DEG in BiAlO3/SrTiO3 can be controlled using an external electric field, leading to a wide range of solid state applications.

Evidence of Slater-type mechanism as origin of insulating state in Sr2IrO4.

For iridates with large spatially extended 5d orbitals, it may be anticipated that distant neighbor interactions would play a crucial role in their ground state properties. From this perspective, we investigate the magnetic structure of Sr2IrO4 by including interactions beyond first and second neighbors, via supercell modeling. Adopting to first-principles scalar relativistic methods, it is found that the minimum in total energy among various magnetic structures correspond to a [Formula: see text] type antiferromagnetic ordering of the Ir ions for which the magnitude of the electronic gap, that of the Ir local moments and, the facsimile of the two-peaked structure in the optical conductivity spectra of Sr2IrO4 were found to be in good agreement with the experiments. The results unequivocally show that the origin of the electronic gap in Sr2IrO4 is due to an unconventional antiferromagnetic ordering of Ir ions, thereby classifying the system as a Slater magnet, rather than the spin-orbit coupling driven [Formula: see text] Mott insulator.

Post-perovskite CaIrO3: a conventional Slater type antiferromagnetic insulator.

To resolve the controversy of whether or not the origin of an electronic gap in antiferromagnetic post-perovskite (pPv) CaIrO3 is due to Coulomb repulsion or spin-orbit coupling, and/or both, we have performed comprehensive full potential density functional theory based calculations. A rather consistent electronic structure, which explains the origin and magnitude of the electronic gap, inter-band d-d transition energies, high thermopower and large magneto-crystalline anisotropy, is obtained with the use of a modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential. Fundamentally, mBJ calculations correctly capture the strong interplay of the crystal field and long range antiferromagnetic ordering of Ir spins as the mechanism that drives pPv-CaIrO3 to an insulating state. Based on our findings, we propose that pPv-CaIrO3 is a conventional Slater type antiferromagnetic insulator.

Tuning the carrier concentration using Zintl chemistry in Mg3Sb2, and its implications for thermoelectric figure-of-merit.

Zintl compounds are potential candidates for efficient thermoelectric materials, because typically they are small band gap semiconductors. In addition, such compounds allow fine tuning of the carrier concentration by chemical doping for the optimization of thermoelectric performance. Herein, such tunability is demonstrated in Mg3Sb2-based Zintl compounds via Zn(2+) doping at the Mg(2+) site of the anionic framework (Mg2Sb2)(2-), in the series Mg3-xZnxSb2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). The materials have been successfully synthesized using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms a single solid solution phase of Mg3-xZnxSb2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). The thermoelectric properties are characterized by the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity measurements from 323 K to 773 K. Isoelectronic Zn substitution at the Mg site presents the controlled variation in the carrier concentration for optimizing the high power factor and reduced thermal conductivity. These results lead to a substantial increase in ZT of 0.37 at 773 K for a composition with x = 0.10 which is ∼42% higher than undoped Mg3Sb2. The electronic transport data for the Mg3-xZnxSb2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) compound are analyzed using a single parabolic band model predicting that Mg2.9Zn0.1Sb2 exhibits a near-optimal carrier concentration for high ZT. The electronic structure of transport properties of these disordered Mg3-xZnxSb2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) is also studied using density functional theory and the results obtained are in good agreement with experimental results. The low cost, lightness and non-toxicity of the constituent elements make these materials ideal for mid-temperature thermoelectric applications.

Cooperative effects of lattice and spin-orbit coupling on the electronic structure of orthorhombic SrIrO3.

Orthorhombic SrIrO3 subjected to strain shows tunable transport properties. With underlying symmetry remaining invariant, these properties are associated with IrO6 octahedral tilting. Adopting first-principles methods, the effects of crystal field, spin-orbit coupling (SOC), and Coulomb correlations, on comparable interaction length scales, are discussed. While tilting induces a t(2g) - e(g) crystal-field splitting and band narrowing, SOC induces a partial splitting of the J(eff) bands rendering SrIrO3 a semi-metallic ground state. The SOC enhanced hybridization of Ir-O orbitals serves as an explanation as to why the critical Hubbard correlation strength increases with increasing SOC strength in SrIrO3 to induce an insulating phase.

Effect of pressure on itinerant magnetism and spin disorder in cubic FeGe.

The results of ab initio calculations of the pressure dependence of Fe magnetism in cubic FeGe are presented. We find that when the pressure-volume scale is set by means of generalized gradient approximation total energies and magnetism is described by means of the local density approximation, the critical pressure at which the magnetic phase transition occurs is estimated at ≈18 GPa, which is in good agreement with experiments. Using the disordered local moment method we find a localized to itinerant model cross-over of Fe magnetism in cubic FeGe, as a function of volume. Moreover, our calculations also suggest subtle signatures of longitudinal spin fluctuations in cubic FeGe, and that the stiffness parameter softens with increasing pressure. We associate the retention of metallicity in FeGe under pressure with the spin-disorder scattering. The effect of spin-orbit coupling on the electronic structure is also discussed.

Variation of equation of state parameters in the Mg2(Si(1-x)Sn(x)) alloys.

Thermoelectric performance peaks up for intermediate Mg(2)(Si(1-x)Sn(x)) alloys, but not for isomorphic and isoelectronic Mg(2)(Si(1-x)Ge(x)) alloys. A comparative study of the equation of state parameters is performed using density functional theory, Green's function technique, and the coherent potential approximation. Anomalous variation of the bulk modulus is found in Mg(2)(Si(1-x)Sn(x)) but not in the Mg(2)(Si(1-x)Ge(x)) analogs. Assuming a Debye model, linear variations of the unit cell volume and pressure derivative of the bulk modulus suggest that lattice effects are important for the thermoelectric response. From the electronic structure perspective, Mg(2)(Si(1-x)Sn(x)) is distinguished by a strong renormalization of the anion-anion hybridization.

Itinerant magnetic excitations in antiferromagnetic CaFe2As2.

Neutron scattering measurements of the magnetic excitations in single crystals of antiferromagnetic CaFe2As2 reveal steeply dispersive and well-defined spin waves up to an energy of approximately 100 meV. Magnetic excitations above 100 meV and up to the maximum energy of 200 meV are however broader in energy and momentum than the experimental resolution. While the low energy modes can be fit to a Heisenberg model, the total spectrum cannot be described as arising from excitations of a local moment system. Ab initio calculations of the dynamic magnetic susceptibility suggest that the high energy behavior is dominated by the damping of spin waves by particle-hole excitations.

Anisotropic three-dimensional magnetism in CaFe2As2.

Inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the magnetic excitations in CaFe2As2 indicate that the spin wave velocity in the Fe layers is exceptionally large and similar in magnitude to the cuprates. However, the spin wave velocity perpendicular to the layers is at least half as large that in the layer, so that the magnetism is more appropriately categorized as anisotropic three-dimensional, in contrast to the two-dimensional cuprates. Exchange constants derived from band structure calculations predict spin wave velocities that are consistent with the experimental data.