Spin excitation continuum from degenerate states in the mixed ferro-antiferromagnetic exchange system CeMgAlO

Gao, B.*; Chen, T.*; Liu, C.*; Klemm, M. L.*; Zhang, S.*; Ma, Z.*; Xu, X.*; Won, C.*; McCandless, G. T.*; Rao, K.*; et al.

Science Advances (Internet), 12(10), p.eaed7778_1 - eaed7778_7, 2026/03

https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aed7778

In the search for unconventional magnetism, exotic quantum states are characterized by a lack of order and a broad spin excitation continuum approaching zero temperature. We study the two-dimensional triangular-lattice effective spin-system CeMgAlO, which shows slight disorder but no magnetic ordering down to 100 millikelvin. Spin-wave analysis in the magnetic-field-polarized state determines the spin Hamiltonian featuring a mixed ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange interaction. This places the system near an exactly solvable point of the spin-triangular-lattice XXZ model with extensive ground-state degeneracy. In zero field, neutron spectroscopy reveals a prominent continuum; we show that this arises from an ensemble average of spin-wave spectra across the degenerate ground-state manifold. This demonstrates that the role of weak quenched disorder can be quantitatively constrained: It inhibits unique ground-state selection and stabilizes a local distribution within the degenerate manifold, yielding continuum-like spectra that necessitate a critical reevaluation of the experimental signatures of exotic quantum states.

Downward terrestrial gamma-ray flash associated with collision of lightning leaders

和田 有希*; 森本 健志*; Wu, T.*; Wang, D.*; 菊池 博史*; 中村 佳敬*; 吉川 英一*; 牛尾 知雄*; 土屋 晴文

Science Advances (Internet), 11(21), p.eads6906_1 - eads6906_10, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads6906

Lightning discharges can produce transient gamma-ray emissions called terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), which originates from electrons accelerated to relativistic energies in strong electric fields. However, it is not yet understood how lightning produces an enormous number of relativistic electrons in dense atmospheres. We present that, thanks to a ground-based observation with optical, radio frequency and high-energy measurements focused on television transmission towers in Kanazawa, Japan, a TGF and a cloud-to-ground discharge of kA occurred when a downward negative leader was colliding with an upward positive leader from the tower. Because the cloud-to-ground current followed the TGF by 30 s, the TGF started when two leaders approached each other. Our results indicate that an immense number of electrons were produced and accelerated to relativistic energies in a strong and compact electric-field region between the two leaders.

Fully gapped pairing state in spin-triplet superconductor UTe

末次 祥大*; 酒井 宏典; Opletal, P.; 常盤 欣文; 芳賀 芳範; 他12名*

Science Advances (Internet), 10(6), p.eadk3772_1 - eadk3772_6, 2024/02

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk3772

The superconducting gap structure of UTe was determined by the thermal conductivity measurement on ultra-clean UTe single crystals. The result demonstrates the absence of nodes around the -axis, contrary to the previous study. The finding reveals that UTe is likely to be a long-sought three-dimensional strong topological superconductor.

Superconducting spin reorientation in spin-triplet multiple superconducting phases of UTe

金城 克樹*; 藤林 裕己*; 松村 拓輝*; 堀 文哉*; 北川 俊作*; 石田 憲二*; 徳永 陽; 酒井 宏典; 神戸 振作; 仲村 愛*; et al.

Science Advances (Internet), 9(30), p.2736_1 - 2736_6, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg2736

Superconducting (SC) state has spin and orbital degrees of freedom, and spin-triplet superconductivity shows multiple SC phases because of the presence of these degrees of freedom. However, the observation of spin-direction rotation occurring inside the SC state (SC spin rotation) has hardly been reported. Uranium ditelluride, a recently found topological superconductor, exhibits various SC phases under pressure: SC state at ambient pressure (SC1), high-temperature SC state above 0.5 gigapascal (SC2), and low-temperature SC state above 0.5 gigapascal (SC3). We performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ac susceptibility measurements on a single-crystal uranium ditelluride. The b axis spin susceptibility remains unchanged in SC2, unlike in SC1, and decreases below the SC2-SC3 transition with spin modulation. These unique properties in SC3 arise from the coexistence of two SC order parameters. Our NMR results confirm spin-triplet superconductivity with SC spin parallel to b axis in SC2 and unveil the remaining of spin degrees of freedom in SC uranium ditelluride.

Observation of topological Hall torque exerted on a domain wall in the ferromagnetic oxide SrRuO

山ノ内 路彦*; 荒木 康史; 酒井 貴樹*; 植村 哲也*; 太田 裕道*; 家田 淳一

Science Advances (Internet), 8(15), p.eabl6192_1 - eabl6192_6, 2022/04

AA2021-0538.pdf:0.53MB

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abl6192

強磁性ワイル金属SrRuOにおける、電流によって磁壁に作用する大きな有効磁場を報告する。電流密度に対するの比率は、非単調な温度依存性を示し、従来のスピン移行トルクおよびスピン軌道トルクの比率を上回っていることが示される。この増強効果は、磁壁に電場が印加されたときに、ワイル点の周りに出現するワイル電子によって磁壁に作用するトポロジカルホールトルク(THT)によってよく説明される。電流密度に対するTHTから生じるの比率は、金属系で報告されているスピン移行トルクおよびスピン軌道トルクから生じるものよりも1桁以上高く、THTが スピントロニクスデバイスにおける磁化の操作においてエネルギー効率の良い方法を提供する可能性があることを示している。

Nonreciprocal surface acoustic wave propagation via magneto-rotation coupling

Xu, M.*; 山本 慧; Puebla, J.*; Baumgaertl, K.*; Rana, B.*; 三浦 勝哉*; 高橋 宏昌*; Grundler, D.*; 前川 禎通*; 大谷 義近*

Science Advances (Internet), 6(32), p.eabb1724_1 - eabb1724_4, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abb1724

One of the most fundamental forms of magnon-phonon-interaction is an intrinsic property of magnetic materials, the "magnetoelastic coupling." This particular form of interaction has been the basis for describing magnetic materials and their strain related applications, where strain induces changes of internal magnetic fields. Different from the magnetoelastic coupling, more than 40 years ago, it was proposed that surface acoustic waves may induce surface magnons via rotational motion of the lattice in anisotropic magnets. However, a signature of this magnon-phonon coupling mechanism, termed magneto-rotation coupling, has been elusive. Here, we report the first observation and theoretical framework of the magneto-rotation coupling in a perpendicular anisotropic ultra-thin lim Ta/CoFeB/MgO, which consequently induces nonreciprocal acoustic wave attenuation with an unprecedented ratio up to 100% rectification at a theoretically predicted optimized condition. Our work not only experimentally demonstrates a fundamentally new path for investigating magnon-phonon coupling, but also justifies the feasibility of the magneto-rotation coupling based application.

Battery-free, skin-interfaced microfluidic/electronic systems for simultaneous electrochemical, colorimetric, and volumetric analysis of sweat

Bandodkar, A. J.*; Gutruf, P.*; Choi, J.*; Lee, K.-H.*; 関根 由莉奈; Reeder, J. T.*; Jeang, W. J.*; Aranyosi, A. J.*; Lee, S. P.*; Model, J. B.*; et al.

Science Advances (Internet), 5(1), p.eaav3294_1 - eaav3294_15, 2019/01

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav3294

非侵襲でバイオマーカーを検出し得るウェアラブルデバイスが注目されている。しかしながら現在までに存在するウェアラブルデバイスはその電力源や検出部分などの小型化が困難であったことから重さや大きさの点でポータビリティに欠けていた。本研究では、バッテリーフリーでかつ電気的、呈色式を用いて重要バイオマーカーである塩化物, 乳酸, グルコース, pHを検出できるスウェットデバイスを開発した。

Dirac surface state-modulated spin dynamics in a ferrimagnetic insulator at room temperature

Tang, C.*; Song, Q.*; Chang, C.-Z.*; Xu, Y.*; 大沼 悠一; 松尾 衛*; Liu, Y.*; Yuan, W.*; Yao, Y.*; Moodera, J. S.*; et al.

Science Advances (Internet), 4(6), p.eaas8660_1 - eaas8660_6, 2018/06

AA2018-0166.pdf:0.7MB

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aas8660

This work demonstrates markedly modified spin dynamics of magnetic insulator (MI) by the spin momentum-locked Dirac surface states of the adjacent topological insulator (TI). As the Bi concentration is systematically tuned in 5-nm-thick (BiSb)Te TI films, the weight of the surface relative to bulk states peaks at = 0.32 when the chemical potential approaches the Dirac point. At this concentration, the Gilbert damping constant of the precessing magnetization in 10-nm-thick YFeO MI films in the MI/TI heterostructures is enhanced by an order of magnitude, the largest among all concentrations. In addition, the MI acquires additional strong magnetic anisotropy that favors the in-plane orientation with similar Bi concentration dependence. These extraordinary effects of the Dirac surface states distinguish TI from other materials such as heavy metals in modulating spin dynamics of the neighboring magnetic layer.

Multiple-wavelength neutron holography with pulsed neutrons

林 好一*; 大山 研司*; 八方 直久*; 松下 智裕*; 細川 伸也*; 原田 正英; 稲村 泰弘; 仁谷 浩明*; 宍戸 統悦*; 湯葢 邦夫*

Science Advances (Internet), 3(8), p.e1700294_1 - e1700294_7, 2017/08

http://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700294

Local structures around impurities in solids provide important information for understanding the mechanisms of material functions, because most of them are controlled by dopants. For this purpose, the X-ray absorption fine structure method, which provides radial distribution functions around specific elements, is most widely used. However, a similar method using neutron techniques has not yet been developed. If one can establish a method of local structural analysis with neutrons, then a new frontier of materials science can be explored owing to the specific nature of neutron scattering-that is, its high sensitivity to light elements and magnetic moments. Multiple-wavelength neutron holography using the time-of-flight technique with pulsed neutrons has great potential to realize this. We demonstrated multiple-wavelength neutron holography using a Eu-doped CaF single crystal and obtained a clear three-dimensional atomic image around trivalent Eu substituted for divalent Ca, revealing an interesting feature of the local structure that allows it to maintain charge neutrality. The new holography technique is expected to provide new information on local structures using the neutron technique.

Large-Eddy Simulation of plume dispersion under various thermally stratified boundary layers

中山 浩成; 竹見 哲也*; 永井 晴康

Advances in Science & Research (Internet), 11, p.75 - 81, 2014/07

https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-11-75-2014

大気・陸域・海洋での放射性物質の移行挙動を包括的に予測できるSPEEDI-MPにおいて、Large-Eddy Simulation(LES)に基づく局所域高分解能大気拡散予測モデルの開発とその導入を目指している。今回は、まず、大気が安定・不安定成層化した境界層乱流を作り出し、それぞれのケースにおいて大気拡散計算を行う。既往の拡散風洞実験及び理論解との比較により再現性について議論をし、本LESモデルの性能評価を行う。