Anisotropic magnetotransport properties coupled with spiral spin modulation in a magnetic semimetal EuZnGe

Takashi Kurumaji, Masaki Gen, Shunsuke Kitou, Hajime Sagayama, Akihiko Ikeda, and Taka-hisa Arima
Phys. Rev. Materials 6, 094410 – Published 22 September 2022

Abstract

We investigate the thermodynamic, magnetic, and electrical transport properties of a magnetic semimetal EuZnGe using single crystals grown from Eu-Zn flux in sealed tantalum tubes. Magnetic properties are found to be isotropic in the paramagnetic state while we observe an enhancement of in-plane magnetic susceptibility at the temperature near T*=11.3K, suggesting an easy-plane anisotropy at low temperatures. Magnetic transition temperature is lower than T* as specific heat shows a peak at TN=7.6K. We reveal the magnetic modulation along the c axis by resonant x-ray scattering at Eu L2 edge, which suggests competing magnetic interactions among Eu triangular-lattice layers. We observe a double-peak structure in the intensity profile along (0, 0, L) below TN, which is mainly composed of a dominant helical modulation with q (0, 0, 0.4) coexisting with a secondary contribution from q (0, 0, 0.5). We reproduce the intensity profile with a random mixture of five- and four-sublattice helices with spin rotation skipping due to hexagonal in-plane anisotropy. The metallic conductivity is highly anisotropic with the ratio ρzz/ρxx exceeding 10 over the entire temperature range and additionally exhibits a sharp enhancement of ρzz at TN giving rise to ρzz/ρxx50, suggesting a coupling between out-of-plane electron conduction and the spiral magnetic modulations. In-plane magnetic field induces a spin-flop-like transition, where the q=0.4 peak disappears and an incommensurate peak of approximately qICM 0.47 emerges, while the q=0.5 modulation retains a finite intensity. This transition correlates with nonmonotonic magnetoresistance and Hall resistivity, suggesting a significant interplay between electrons and spin structures through Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction.

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  • Received 31 July 2022
  • Accepted 6 September 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.094410

©2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Takashi Kurumaji1, Masaki Gen1,2, Shunsuke Kitou2, Hajime Sagayama3, Akihiko Ikeda4, and Taka-hisa Arima1,2

  • 1Department of Advanced Materials Science, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8561, Japan
  • 2RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan
  • 3Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, 305-0801 Tsukuba, Japan
  • 4Department of Engineering Science, University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan

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Issue

Vol. 6, Iss. 9 — September 2022

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