Speaker
Description
The intercalated transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are formed through the insertion of transition-metal ions between weakly bonded hexagonal layers. The low dimensionality of these systems leads to the realisation of a wide range of magnetic phenomena, which is further enhanced by varying the species and stoichiometry of the intercalate [1]. The sensitivity of muons to local magnetism makes them an ideal tool for investigating intercalated TMDCs, where they have previously identified long-range magnetic order (LRO) and low-energy magnetic dynamics [2].
Here we examine Fe$_{1/3}$NbS2, which hosts both antiferromagnetic (AFM) stripe and AFM zig-zag phases [3]. Changes in the volume fractions of these phases with temperature reveals a mixed region with phase coexistence, along with an intermediate temperature stripe-only region. The muSR relaxation in Fe$_{1/3}$NbS2 is anisotropic with oscillations due to LRO only present in the a-b plane, which can be understood through muon site analysis. We also present results on V$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$, where the dynamic response of implanted muons peaks at a low temperature (10 K) transition. This corresponds to a region of non-Fermi liquid behaviour that is possibly due to the formation of topological magnetic objects [4].
[1] B. Edwards et al., Chem. Mater., 36, 7117 (2024).
[2] T. J. Hicken et al., Phys. Rev. B 105, L060407 (2022).
[3] S. Wu et al., Phys. Rev. X 12, 021003 (2022).
[4] M. K. Ray et al., Nat. Commun. 16, 3532 (2025).
| nathan.p.bentley@durham.ac.uk | |
| Funding Agency | EPSRC (UK) |
| Supervisors Name | Tom Lancaster |
| Supervisors Email | tom.lancaster@durham.ac.uk |
| Did you request an Invitation Letter for a Visitors Visa Application | No |
