Magnetotransport properties of chiral helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2 near phase transition

Abstract

Many interesting physical phenomena emerge in the vicinity of phase transition temperature (Tc) for magnetic materials. However, it remains a big challenge to elucidate the near-Tc behaviors of chiral helimagnets, owing to their diversified magnetic interactions and complicated phase transitions. Here, we have systematically studied the near-Tc properties of a chiral helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2 by magnetotransport measurements with fine tuning of temperature and magnetic field. An anomalous positive magnetoresistance (MR) appears around the critical field (Hc) in a narrow temperature range (~ 128–132 K), which can be attributed to the competing scattering effects on electrons between the chiral magnetic order and thermal fluctuation near critical point. Moreover, the negative MR continues to increase even above Hc, and this behavior becomes more pronounced near Tc. Based on the MR results, a near-Tc magnetic phase diagram of Cr1/3NbS2 is presented, with a particular emphasis on the determination of internal phase boundary of chiral soliton lattice (CSL). This work gains an insight on the near-Tc behaviors of chiral magnetic materials and sheds light on the related electronic and spintronic applications.