Surface state reconstruction in ion-damaged SmB_6

We have used ion-irradiation to damage the (001) surfaces of SmB_6 single crystals to varying depths, and have measured the resistivity as a function of temperature for each depth of damage. We observe a reduction in the residual resistivity with increasing depth of damage. Our data are consistent with a model in which the surface state is not destroyed by the ion-irradiation, but instead the damaged layer is poorly conducting and the initial surface state is reconstructed below the damage. This behavior is consistent with a surface state that is topologically protected.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Large magnetoresistance in the antiferromagnetic semi-metal NdSb

There has been considerable interest in topological semi-metals that exhibit extreme magnetoresistance (XMR). These have included materials lacking inversion symmetry such as TaAs, as well Dirac semi-metals such as Cd3As2. However, it was reported recently that LaSb and LaBi also exhibit XMR, even though the rock-salt structure of these materials has inversion symmetry, and the band-structure calculations do not show a Dirac dispersion in the bulk. Here, we present magnetoresistance and specific heat measurements on NdSb, which is isostructural with LaSb. NdSb has an antiferromagnetic groundstate, and in analogy with the lanthanum monopnictides, is expected to be a topologically non-trivial semi-metal. We show that NdSb has an XMR of 10^4 %, even within the AFM state, illustrating that XMR can occur independently of the absence of time reversal symmetry breaking in zero magnetic field. The persistence of XMR in a magnetic system offers promise of new functionality when combining topological matter with electronic correlations. We also find that in an applied magnetic field below the Neel temperature there is a first order transition, consistent with evidence from previous neutron scattering work.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Magnetism and superconductivity in U_2Pt_xRh_(1-x)C_2

We report the phase diagram of the doping series U_2Pt_xRh_(1-x)C_2, studied through measurements of resistivity, specific heat and magnetic susceptibility. The Neel temperature of U_2RhC_2 of ~ 22 K is suppressed with increasing Pt content, reaching zero temperature close to x=0.7, where we observed signatures of increased quantum fluctuations. In addition, evidence is presented that the antiferromagnetic state undergoes a spin-reorientation transition upon application of an applied magnetic field. This transition shows non-monotonic behaviour as a function of x, peaking at around x=0.3. Superconductivity is observed for x>=0.9, with T_c increasing with increasing x. The reduction in T_c and increase in residual resistivity with decreasing Pt content is inconsistent with the extension of the Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory to unconventional superconductivity.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Electronic Correlation and Magnetism in the Ferromagnetic Metal Fe3GeTe2

Motivated by the search for design principles of rare-earth-free strong magnets, we present a study of electronic structure and magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic metal Fe3GeTe2 within local density approximation (LDA) of the density functional theory, and its combination with dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). For comparison to these calculations, we have measured magnetic and thermodynamic properties as well as X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and the photoemission spectrum of single crystal Fe3GeTe2. We find that the experimentally determined Sommerfeld coefficient is enhanced by an order of magnitude with respect to the LDA value. This enhancement can be partially explained by LDA+DMFT. In addition, the inclusion of dynamical electronic correlation effects provides the experimentally observed magnetic moments, and the spectral density is in better agreement with photoemission data. These results establish the importance of electronic correlations in this ferromagnet.Comment: 6 pages, 5 eps embedded eps figures. Physical Review B, accepted versio

Competing magnetic orders in the superconducting state of Nd-doped CeRhIn5_{5} under pressure

Applied pressure drives the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeRhIn$_{5}$ towards a quantum critical point that becomes hidden by a dome of unconventional superconductivity. Magnetic fields suppress this superconducting dome, unveiling the quantum phase transition of local character. Here, we show that $5\%$ magnetic substitution at the Ce site in CeRhIn$_{5}$, either by Nd or Gd, induces a zero-field magnetic instability inside the superconducting state. This magnetic state not only should have a different ordering vector than the high-field local-moment magnetic state, but it also competes with the latter, suggesting that a spin-density-wave phase is stabilized in zero field by Nd and Gd impurities - similarly to the case of Ce$_{0.95}$Nd$_{0.05}$CoIn$_{5}$. Supported by model calculations, we attribute this spin-density wave instability to a magnetic-impurity driven condensation of the spin excitons that form inside the unconventional superconducting state

Viscosity measurements on Ionic liquids : a cautionary tale

The vibrating-wire viscometer has proven to be an exceedingly effective means of determining the viscosity of liquids over a wide range of temperature and pressure. The instrument has a long history but a variety of technological and theoretical developments over a number of years have improved its precision and most recently have enabled absolute measurements of high accuracy. However, the nature of the electrical measurements required for the technique has inhibited its widespread use for electrically conducting liquids so that there have been only a limited number of measurements. In the particular context of ionic liquids, which have themselves attracted considerable attention, this is unfortunate because it has meant that one primary measurement technique has seldom been employed for studies of their viscosity. In the last 2 years systematic efforts have been made to explore the applicability of the vibrating-wire technique by examining a number of liquids of increasing electrical conductivity. These extensions have been successful. However, in the process we have had cause to review previous studies of the viscosity and density of the same liquids at moderate temperatures and pressures and significant evidence has been accumulated to cause concern about the application of a range of viscometric techniques to these particular fluids. Because the situation is reminiscent of that encountered for a new set of environmentally friendly refrigerants at the end of the last decade, in this paper the experimental methods employed with these liquids have been reviewed which leads to recommendations for the handling of these materials that may have consequences beyond viscometric measurements. In the process new viscosity and density data for 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide [C6mim][NTf2], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate [C2mim][EtSO4], and 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium ethyl sulfate [C2mpy][EtSO4] have been obtained