Professor Paolo G. Radaelli OSI

Abstract:

Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 (langasite) is structurally and magnetically single-domain chiral with the magnetic helicity induced through competing symmetric exchange interactions. Using neutron scattering, we show that the spin waves in antiferromagnetic langasite display directional anisotropy. On applying a time-reversal symmetry breaking magnetic field along the c axis, the spin-wave energies differ when the sign is reversed for either the momentum transfer ±Q- or applied magnetic field ±μ0H. When the field is applied within the crystallographic ab plane, the spin-wave dispersion is directionally isotropic and symmetric in ±μ0H. However, a directional anisotropy is observed in the spin-wave intensity. We discuss this directional anisotropy in the dispersion in langasite in terms of a field-induced precession of the dynamic unit cell staggered magnetization resulting from a broken twofold symmetry. Directional anisotropy, often referred to as nonreciprocal responses, can occur in antiferromagnetic phases in the absence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction or other effects resulting from spin-orbit coupling.

Abstract:

Double perovskite crystals such as Cs₂AgBiBr₆ are expected to overcome the limitation of classic hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite crystals related to the presence of lead and the lack of structural stability. Perovskites are ionic crystals in which the carriers are expected to strongly couple to lattice vibrations. In this work we demonstrate that the photoluminescence (PL) emission in Cs₂AgBiBr₆ is strongly influenced by the strong electron–phonon coupling. Combining photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and Raman spectroscopy we show that the PL emission is related to a color center rather than a band-to-band transition. The broadening and the Stokes shift of the PL emission from Cs₂AgBiBr₆ is well explained using a Franck–Condon model with a Huang–Rhys factor of S = 11.7 indicating a strong electron–phonon interaction in this material.