Abstract
We perform high-field magnetization measurements on the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Fe$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$. We observe a plateau in the magnetization centered at approximately half the saturation magnetization over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field. From density functional theory calculations, we determine a likely set of magnetic exchange constants. Incorporating these constants into a minimal Hamiltonian model of our material, we find that the plateau and of the $Z_3$ symmetry breaking ground state both arise from interplane and intraplane antiferromagnetic interactions acting in competition. These findings are pertinent to the magneto-electric properties of Fe$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$, which allow electrical switching of antiferromagnetic textures at relatively low current densities.
Highlights
The electrical manipulation of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin textures has the potential to effect transformative technological change [1]
In addition to the single-ion anisotropy D, we find that a model with nearest neighbor (NN) and nearest neighbor (NNN) exchange couplings within a single Fe plane, as well as NN and next nearest neighbor (NNN) couplings between adjacent planes, is sufficient to accurately reproduce the ab initio energies of various magnetic states
The UUUD phase responsible for the half-magnetization plateau is stable at the classical level over a wide range of applied fields
Summary
The electrical manipulation of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin textures has the potential to effect transformative technological change [1]. We study magnetization plateaus in the antiferromagnet Fe1/3NbS2, a magnetically intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide which has recently been found to exhibit reversible, electrically stimulated switching between stable magnetic states [3] This behavior has been seen with considerably lower energy requirements in Fe1/3NbS2 as compared to the other systems [3], raising the question of whether the mechanism differs significantly [4,5]. The nature of the underlying ordering in Fe1/3NbS2 has been studied by both neutron scattering [7,8] of magnetic order and optical linear birefringence microscopy [9], which probes nematic structure in the electrical conductivity Both measurements—electric and magnetic—find indications of threefold symmetry breaking in the ground state, whose origin is unclear. Using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), the ratio of Fe:Nb was found to be 0.330:1
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