Topological aspects of multi-k antiferromagnetism in cubic rare-earth compounds

We advertise rare-earth intermetallics with high-symmetry crystal structures and competing interactions as a possible materials platform hosting spin structures with non-trivial topological properties. Focusing on the series of cubic RCu compounds, where R = Ho, Er, Tm, the bulk properties of these systems display exceptionally rich magnetic phase diagrams hosting an abundance of different phase pockets characteristic of antiferromagnetic order in the presence of delicately balanced interactions. The electrical transport properties exhibit large anomalous contributions suggestive of topologically non-trivial winding in the electronic and magnetic structures. Neutron diffraction identifies spontaneous long-range magnetic order in terms of commensurate and incommensurate variations of ππ0 antiferromagnetism with the possibility for various multi-k configurations. Motivated by general trends in these materials, we discuss the possible existence of topologically non-trivial winding in real and reciprocal space in the class of RCu compounds including antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattices. Putatively bringing together different limits of non-trivial topological winding in the same material, the combination of properties in RCu systems promises access to advanced functionalities

Crystal growth, structure, and noninteracting quantum spins in cyanochroite, K2Cu(SO4)2·6H2O

The rare mineral cyanochroite, K2Cu(SO4)2·6H2O, features isolated Cu2+ ions in distorted octahedral coordination, linked via a hydrogen-bond network. We have grown single crystals of cyanochroite as large as ∼0.5 cm3 and investigated structural and magnetic aspects of this material. The positions of hydrogen atoms deviate significantly from those reported previously based on X-ray diffraction data, whereas the magnetic response is fully consistent with free Cu2+ spins. The structure is not changed by deuteration. Density functional theory calculations support our refined hydrogen positions

Crystal Growth, Structure, and Noninteracting Quantum Spins in Cyanochroite, K₂Cu(SO₄)₂·6H₂O

The rare mineral cyanochroite, K2Cu(SO4)2·6H2O, features isolated Cu2+ ions in distorted octahedral coordination, linked via a hydrogen-bond network. We have grown single crystals of cyanochroite as large as ∼0.5 cm3 and investigated structural and magnetic aspects of this material. The positions of hydrogen atoms deviate significantly from those reported previously based on X-ray diffraction data, whereas the magnetic response is fully consistent with free Cu2+ spins. The structure is not changed by deuteration. Density functional theory calculations support our refined hydrogen positions

Magnetically induced metal-insulator transition in Pb2CaOsO6

We report on the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of two new double-perovskites synthesized under high pressure; Pb2CaOsO6 and Pb2ZnOsO6. Upon cooling below 80 K, Pb2CaOsO6 simultaneously undergoes a metal--insulator transition and develops antiferromagnetic order. Pb2ZnOsO6, on the other hand, remains a paramagnetic metal down to 2 K. The key difference between the two compounds lies in their crystal structure. The Os atoms in Pb2ZnOsO6 are arranged on an approximately face-centred cubic lattice with strong antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange couplings. The geometrical frustration inherent to this lattice prevents magnetic order from forming down to the lowest temperatures. In contrast, the unit cell of Pb2CaOsO6 is heavily distorted up to at least 500 K, including antiferroelectric-like displacements of the Pb and O atoms despite metallic conductivity above 80 K. This distortion relieves the magnetic frustration, facilitating magnetic order which in turn drives the metal--insulator transition. Our results suggest that the phase transition in Pb2CaOsO6 is spin-driven, and could be a rare example of a Slater transition.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. Accepted as a regular article in Phys. Rev.

Understanding unconventional magnetic order in a candidate axion insulator by resonant elastic x-ray scattering

Abstract Magnetic topological insulators and semimetals are a class of crystalline solids whose properties are strongly influenced by the coupling between non-trivial electronic topology and magnetic spin configurations. Such materials can host exotic electromagnetic responses. Among these are topological insulators with certain types of antiferromagnetic order which are predicted to realize axion electrodynamics. Here we investigate the highly unusual helimagnetic phases recently reported in EuIn2As2, which has been identified as a candidate for an axion insulator. Using resonant elastic x-ray scattering we show that the two types of magnetic order observed in EuIn2As2 are spatially uniform phases with commensurate chiral magnetic structures, ruling out a possible phase-separation scenario, and we propose that entropy associated with low energy spin fluctuations plays a significant role in driving the phase transition between them. Our results establish that the magnetic order in EuIn2As2 satisfies the symmetry requirements for an axion insulator