Multipole and superconducting state in PrIr2Zn20 probed by muon spin relaxation

We performed muon spin rotation and relaxation (mu SR) measurements in the caged-structure heavy-fermion system PrIr2Zn20 to elucidate its magnetic and superconducting properties. Temperature-independent mu SR spectra were observed below 1 K, indicating that the phase transition at 0.11 K is of a nonmagnetic origin, most probably pure quadrupole ordering. In the superconducting phase, no sign of unconventional superconductivity, such as superconductivity with broken time-reversal symmetry, was seen below T-c = 0.05 K. We also observed spontaneous muon spin precession in zero field in the paramagnetic phase below 15 K, suggesting that unusual coupling between Pr-141 nuclei and muons is realized in PrIr2Zn20

Pressure dependence of ferromagnetic phase boundary in BaVSe3 studied with high-pressure μ+SR

The magnetic nature of a quasi-one-dimensional compound, BaVSe3, has been investigated with positive muon spin rotation and relaxation (μ+SR) measurements at ambient and high pressures. At ambient pressure, the μ+SR spectrum recorded under zero external magnetic field exhibited a clear oscillation below the Curie temperature (TC∼41K) due to the formation of quasistatic ferromagnetic order. The oscillation consisted of two different muon spin precession signals, indicating the presence of two magnetically different muon sites in the lattice. However, the two precession frequencies, which correspond to the internal magnetic fields at the two muon sites, could not be adequately explained with relatively simple ferromagnetic structures using the muon sites predicted by density functional theory calculations. The detailed analysis of the internal magnetic field suggested that the V moments align ferromagnetically along the c axis but slightly canted toward the a axis by 28 that is coupled antiferromagnetically. The ordered V moment (MV) is estimated as (0.59, 0, 1.11) μB. As pressure increased from ambient pressure, TC was found to decrease slightly up to about 1.5 GPa, at which point TC started to increase rapidly with the further increase of the pressure. Based on a strong ferromagnetic interaction along the c axis, the high-pressure μ+SR result revealed that there are two magnetic interactions in the ab plane; one is an antiferromagnetic interaction that is enhanced with pressure, mainly at pressures below 1.5 GPa, while the other is a ferromagnetic interaction that becomes predominant at pressures above 1.5 GPa

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis

鋼鉄の品質管理・日本刀など文化財の非破壊分析も 鋼鉄中のわずかな炭素を素粒子で透視する --ミュオンによる新しい非破壊微量軽元素分析法の開発--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-02-09.The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts. A negatively charged muon forms an atomic system owing to its negative charge, and is finally absorbed into the nucleus or decays to an electron. The lifetimes of muons differ significantly, depending on whether they are trapped by Fe or C atoms, and identifying the elemental content at the muon stoppage position is possible via muon lifetime measurements. The relationship between the muon capture probabilities of C/Fe and the elemental content of C exhibits a good linearity, and the C content in the steel may be quantitatively determined via muon lifetime measurements. Furthermore, by controlling the incident energies of the muons, they may be stopped in each layer of a stacked sample consisting of three types of steel plates with thicknesses of 0.5 mm, and we successfully determined the C contents in the range 0.20–1.03 wt% depth-selectively, without sample destruction

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis

Ninomiya K., Kubo M.K., Inagaki M., et al. Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis. Scientific Reports 14, 1797 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52255-5.The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts. A negatively charged muon forms an atomic system owing to its negative charge, and is finally absorbed into the nucleus or decays to an electron. The lifetimes of muons differ significantly, depending on whether they are trapped by Fe or C atoms, and identifying the elemental content at the muon stoppage position is possible via muon lifetime measurements. The relationship between the muon capture probabilities of C/Fe and the elemental content of C exhibits a good linearity, and the C content in the steel may be quantitatively determined via muon lifetime measurements. Furthermore, by controlling the incident energies of the muons, they may be stopped in each layer of a stacked sample consisting of three types of steel plates with thicknesses of 0.5 mm, and we successfully determined the C contents in the range 0.20–1.03 wt% depth-selectively, without sample destruction

Quantum critical spin-liquid-like behavior in S = 1/2 quasi-kagome lattice compound CeRh₁-ₓPdₓSn investigated using muon spin relaxation and neutron scattering

We present the results of muon spin relaxation (μSR) and neutron scattering on the Ce-based quasikagome lattice CeRh1−xPdxSn (x=0.1 to 0.75). Our ZF-μSR results reveal the absence of static long-range magnetic order down to 0.05~K in x=0.1 single crystals. The weak temperature-dependent plateaus of the dynamic spin fluctuations below 0.2~K in ZF-μSR together with its longitudinal-field (LF) dependence between 0 and 3~kG indicate the presence of dynamic spin fluctuations persisting even at T = 0.05~K without static magnetic order. On the other hand, C4f/T increases as --log T on cooling below 0.9~K, passes through a broad maximum at 0.13~K and slightly decreases on further cooling. The ac-susceptibility also exhibits a frequency independent broad peak at 0.16~K, which is prominent with an applied field H along c-direction. We, therefore, argue that such a behavior for x=0.1 (namely, a plateau in spin relaxation rate (λ) below 0.2~K and a linear T dependence in C4f below 0.13~K) can be attributed to a metallic spin-liquid (SL) ground state near the quantum critical point in the frustrated Kondo lattice. The LF-μSR study suggests that the out of kagome plane spin fluctuations are responsible for the SL behavior. Low energy inelastic neutron scattering (INS) of x = 0.1 reveals gapless magnetic excitations, which are also supported by the behavior of C4f proportional to T1.1 down to 0.06~K

Unveiling unconventional magnetism at the surface of Sr2_2RuO4_4

Materials with strongly correlated electrons exhibit physical properties that are often difficult to predict as they result from the interactions of large numbers of electrons combined with several quantum degrees of freedom. The layered oxide perovskite Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ is a strongly correlated electron material that has been intensively investigated since its discovery due to its unusual physical properties. Whilst recent experiments have reopened the debate on the exact symmetry of the superconducting state in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, a deeper understanding of the Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ normal state appears crucial as this is the background in which electron pairing occurs. Here, by using low-energy muon spin spectroscopy we discover the existence of magnetism at the surface of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ in its normal state. We detect static weak dipolar fields yet manifesting below a relatively high onset temperature larger than 50 K, which reveals the unconventional nature of the observed magnetism. We relate the origin of this phase breaking time reversal symmetry to electronic ordering in the form of orbital loop currents that originate at the reconstructed Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ surface. Our observations set a reference for the discovery of the same magnetic phase in other materials and unveil an electronic ordering mechanism that can influence unconventional electron pairing with broken time reversal symmetry in those materials where the observed magnetic phase coexists with superconductivity.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Direct measurement of the evolution of magnetism and superconductivity toward the quantum critical point

International audienceNontrivial quantum states can be realized in the vicinity of the quantum critical point (QCP) in many strongly correlated electron systems. In particular, an emergence of unconventional superconductivity around the QCP strongly suggests that the quantum critical fluctuations play a central role in the superconducting pairing mechanism. However, a clear signature of the direct coupling between the superconducting pairing states and the quantum criticality has not yet been elucidated by the microscopic probes. Herein, we present muon spin rotation/relaxation and neutron diffraction measurements in the superconducting dome of CeCo(In 1 − x Zn x ) 5 . It was found that a magnetically ordered state develops at x ≥ 0.03, coexisting with the superconductivity. The magnitude of the ordered magnetic moment is continuously reduced with decreasing x , and it disappears below x ∼ 0.03, indicating a second-order phase transition and the presence of the QCP at this critical Zn concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic penetration depth diverges toward the QCP. These facts provide evidence for the intimate coupling between quantum criticality and Cooper pairing

Direct measurement of the evolution of magnetism and superconductivity toward the quantum critical point

International audienceNontrivial quantum states can be realized in the vicinity of the quantum critical point (QCP) in many strongly correlated electron systems. In particular, an emergence of unconventional superconductivity around the QCP strongly suggests that the quantum critical fluctuations play a central role in the superconducting pairing mechanism. However, a clear signature of the direct coupling between the superconducting pairing states and the quantum criticality has not yet been elucidated by the microscopic probes. Herein, we present muon spin rotation/relaxation and neutron diffraction measurements in the superconducting dome of CeCo(In 1 − x Zn x ) 5 . It was found that a magnetically ordered state develops at x ≥ 0.03, coexisting with the superconductivity. The magnitude of the ordered magnetic moment is continuously reduced with decreasing x , and it disappears below x ∼ 0.03, indicating a second-order phase transition and the presence of the QCP at this critical Zn concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic penetration depth diverges toward the QCP. These facts provide evidence for the intimate coupling between quantum criticality and Cooper pairing