Anisotropy of Ca0.73La0.27(Fe0.96Co0.04)As2 studied by torque magnetometry

Torque measurements were performed on single crystal samples of Ca0.73La0.27(Fe0.96Co0.04)As2 in both the normal and superconducting states.Contributions to the torque signal from the paramagnetism and the vortex lattice were identified.The superconducting anisotropy parameterγwas determined from the reversible part of the vortex contribution based on Kogan's model.It is found thatγ≈7.5 at t=T/Tc=0.85,which is smaller than the result of CaFe0.88Co0.12AsFγ≈15 at t=0.83,but larger than the result of 11 and 122 families,whereγstays in the range of 2-3.The moderate anisotropy of this 112 iron-based superconductor fills the gap between 11,122 families and 1111 families.In addition,we found that theγshows a temperature dependent behavior,i.e.,decreasing with increasing temperature.The fact thatγis not a constant point towards a multiband scenario in this compound.

Spin order and dynamics in the topological rare-earth germanide semimetals

The REAl(Si,Ge)(RE=rare earth)family,known to break both the inversion-and time-reversal symmetries,represents one of the most suitable platforms for investigating the interplay between correlated-electron phenomena and topologically nontrivial bands.Here,we report on systematic magnetic,transport,and muon-spin rotation and relaxation(μSR)measurements on(Nd,Sm)AlGe single crystals,which exhibit antiferromagnetic(AFM)transitions at T_(N)=6.1 and 5.9 K,respectively.In addition,NdAlGe undergoes also an incommensurate-to-commensurate ferrimagnetic transition at 4.5 K.Weak transverse-fieldμSR measurements confirm the AFM transitions,featuring a~90%magnetic volume fraction.Zero-field(ZF)μSR measurements reveal a more disordered internal field distribution in NdAlGe than in SmAlGe,reflected in a larger transverse muon-spin relaxation rateλTat T<<T_(N).This may be due to the complex magnetic structure of NdAlGe,which undergoes a series of metamagnetic transitions in an external magnetic field,while SmAlGe shows only a robust AFM order.In NdAlGe,the topological Hall effect(THE)appears between the first and the second metamagnetic transitions for H‖c,while it is absent in SmAlGe.Such THE in NdAlGe is most likely attributed to the field-induced topological spin textures.The longitudinal muon-spin relaxation rateλL,diverges near the AFM order,followed by a clear drop at T<T_N.In the magnetically ordered state,spin fluctuations are significantly stronger in NdAlGe than in SmAlGe.In general,our longitudinal-fieldμSR data indicate vigorous spin fluctuations in NdAlGe,thus providing valuable insights into the origin of THE and of the possible topological spin textures in REAl(Si,Ge)Weyl semimetals.