arXiv subjects

A. Kozłowski

Publications and source records attributed to A. Kozłowski.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Robustness of the Verwey transition against remanent strain-induced defects in magnetite

The Verwey transition in magnetite is a benchmark electronically driven phase transition that is highly sensitive to lattice imperfections and external perturbations. Doping, deviations from oxygen stoichiometry, and irradiation-induced point defects are known to lower the Verwey transition temperature, $T_{\rm V}$. By contrast, the role of remanent strain fields and extended defect structures generated by uniaxial stress has remained largely unexplored. Here we combine dark-field x-ray microscopy (DFXM) and ac magnetic susceptibility to determine how strain-induced defects affect the Verwey transition in stoichiometric single-crystalline magnetite after uniaxial compression and unloading. The DFXM measurements were performed on two samples compressed along the same $[011]$ direction: loading to $200~\mathrm{MPa}$ generated stable line-like defects and remanent strain fields, whereas loading beyond the fracture threshold produced denser defect networks and mechanical fracture. To test the effect of a different loading geometry, we also measured the ac susceptibility of a sample fractured by compression along $[001]$. Real-space DFXM imaging, lattice-orientation mapping, and residual strain mapping show substantial remanent structural disorder after compression. Nevertheless, neither the transition temperature $T_{\rm V}$ nor the sharpness of the transition changes measurably in any of the compressed or fractured samples. This behavior contrasts with the strong suppression of $T_{\rm V}$ by point-like disorder. Our results show that extended line-like defects and remanent strain fields produced by plastic deformation do not measurably perturb the macroscopic electronic ordering responsible for the Verwey transition, thereby distinguishing the effects of point defects from those of extended slip-related defects in magnetite.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

The impact of hydrostatic pressure, nonstoichiometry, and doping on trimeron lattice excitations in magnetite during axis switching

Trimeron lattice excitations in single crystalline magnetite, in the form of the $c$ axis switching (i.e. the reorganization of the lattice caused by external magnetic field) at temperatures below the Verwey temperature $T_V$ are observed by magnetization experiments. These excitations exhibit strong sensitivity to doping (with Zn, Al, and Ti), nonstoichiometry and hydrostatic pressure ($p < 1.2$ GPa). The considered indicators of the axis switching (AS) are: the switching field $B_{sw}$, the energy density needed to switch the axis $E_{sw}$ and the activation energy $U$. Our results show that hydrostatic pressure $p$ weakens the low$-T$ magnetite structure (decreases $T_V$) and has roughly similar effects on AS in Zn-doped Fe$_3$O$_4$ and, in much less extent, in stoichiometric magnetite. We have, however, found that while doping/nonstoichiometry also lowers $T_V$, making it more prone to temperature chaos, it drastically increases the switching field, activation and switching energies suggesting that the trimeron order, subject to change while AS occurs, is more robust. Consequently, we conclude that the manipulation of trimerons in the process of axis switching and the mechanisms leading to the Verwey transition are distinct phenomena.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Trimeron-phonon coupling in magnetite

Using density functional theory, we study the lattice dynamical properties of magnetite (Fe$_3$O$_4$) in the high-temperature cubic and low-temperature monoclinic phases. The calculated phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states are compared with the available experimental data obtained by inelastic neutron, inelastic x-ray, and nuclear inelastic scattering. We find a very good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results for the monoclinic $Cc$ structure revealing the strong coupling between charge-orbital (trimeron) order and specific phonon modes. For the cubic phase, clear discrepancies arise which, remarkably, can be understood assuming that the strong trimeron-phonon coupling can be extended above the Verwey transition, with lattice dynamics influenced by the short-range trimeron order instead of the average cubic structure. Our results establish the validity of trimerons (and trimeron-phonon coupling) in explaining the physics of magnetite much beyond their original formulation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Strong out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy of Fe adatoms on Bi$_2$Te$_3$

The electronic and magnetic properties of individual Fe atoms adsorbed on the surface of the topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$(111) are investigated. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy prove the existence of two distinct types of Fe species, while our first-principles calculations assign them to Fe adatoms in the hcp and fcc hollow sites. The combination of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements and angular dependent magnetization curves reveals out-of-plane anisotropies for both species with anisotropy constants of $K_{\text{fcc}} = (10 \pm 4)$ meV/atom and $K_{\text{hcp}} = (8 \pm 4)$ meV/atom. These values are well in line with the results of calculations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Co atoms on Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ revealing a coverage dependent spin reorientation transition

We investigate Co nanostructures on Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ by means of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy [STM/STS], X-ray absorption spectroscopy [XAS], X-ray magnetic dichroism [XMCD] and calculations using the density functional theory [DFT]. In the single adatom regime we find two different adsorption sites by STM. Our calculations reveal these to be the fcc and hcp hollow sites of the substrate. STS shows a pronounced peak for only one species of the Co adatoms indicating different electronic properties of both types. These are explained on the basis of our DFT calculations by different hybridizations with the substrate. Using XMCD we find a coverage dependent spin reorientation transition from easy-plane toward out-of-plane. We suggest clustering to be the predominant cause for this observation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Verwey transition in Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$ at high pressure: quantum critical behavior at the onset of metallization

We provide evidence for the existence of a {\em quantum critical point} at the metallization of magnetite Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$ at an applied pressure of $p_{c} \approx 8$ GPa. We show that the present ac magnetic susceptibility data support earlier resistivity data. The Verwey temperature scales with pressure $T_{V}\sim (1-p/p_{c})^ν$, with $ν\sim 1/3$. The resistivity data shows a temperature dependence $ρ(T)=ρ_{0}+AT^{n}$, with $n\simeq 3$ above and 2.5 at the critical pressure, respectively. This difference in $n$ with pressure is a sign of critical behavior at $p_{c}$. The magnetic susceptibility is smooth near the critical pressure, both at the Verwey transition and near the ferroelectric anomaly. A comparison with the critical behavior observed in the Mott-Hubbard and related systems is made.

cond-mat.str-el↗