Magnetic phase transitions in the chiral helimagnet Cr$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$

ORAL

Abstract

Cr$_{1/3}$NbS$_{2}$ is a long period chiral helimagnet crystallizing in the noncentrosymmetric, hexagonal~space group P6$_3$22. Helimagnetic ordering along the c-axis is attributed to the competition between the symmetric exchange interaction, favoring parallel moments, and the anti-symmetric Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction, favoring perpendicular moments. Recently, the ground state helical ordering is found to be destabilized by a magnetic field applied perpendicular to c, forming a chiral soliton lattice phase, and, above a critical field, a commensurate ferromagnetic state. Thermal and transport properties also show interesting behaviors in the vicinity of the transition temperature. Here we present magnetic, thermal and transport properties of Cr$_{1/3}$NbS$_{2}$ measured on single crystals, along with recent results from neutron scattering experiments conducted on the four circle single crystal diffractometer and general purpose SANS at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, ORNL.

*Research supported by DOE office of Science, Division of Materials Science and Engineering and Scientific User Facilities Division. Research at ORNL's HFIR sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division.

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Authors

  • Nirmal Ghimire

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • The University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee

  • Michael McGuire

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • ORNL
    • Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Brian Sales

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • ORNL

  • Lisa Debeer-Schmitt

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Huibo Cao

    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Bryan Chakoumakos

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • A.A. Aczel

    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Balazs Sipos

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Siwei Tang

    • The University of Tennessee

  • Yuen Yiu

    • The University of Tennessee
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    • The University of Tennessee

  • Stephen Nagler

    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory/The University of Tennessee

  • David Mandrus

    • University of Tennessee
    • Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee and Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • The University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee