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.

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