Hidden magnetic phases and field-induced spin dynamics in the i-MAX compounds

by Mr. Dror Yahav

Physics department, BGU

at Condensed Matter Seminar

Mon, 19 Jan 2026, 11:35
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

New NMR and AC susceptibility measurements of various i-MAX samples, (Mo2/3RE1/3)2AlC, where RE stands for Rare Earth (including RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er), show several surprising findings, including the emergence of a high field ordered canted antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase, with intriguing magnetic properties not measured before and possible re-entrance of magnetic phases for the Dy, Ho, Er compounds with the Tb compound acting as a turning point in RE compounds. In addition, the canted AFM phase transition field curiously decreases while increasing the atomic number of the RE at the expense of the lower AFM phase. In the
Tb compound spin dynamics in the kHz range appear at B~0.2T up to B~6T, not displayed in other RE i-MAX samples, implementing a non-trivial superparamagnetic structure with Mydosh parameter Φ~0.168(5). The measurements point towards complex magnetic structure in the i-MAX compounds, demonstrating a non-trivial evolution of their phase diagram while increasing both the atomic number of the RE element and the external field.

Created on 17-01-2026 by Naamneh, Muntaser (mnaamneh)
Updaded on 17-01-2026 by Naamneh, Muntaser (mnaamneh)