Strain tuning magnetic and charge density wave phases in Europium-based layer compounds

Yen Chieh Lee^2,1*, Elliott Rosenberg², Chaowei Hu², Yue Shi², Jiun Haw Chu², Jiunn Yuan Lin¹

¹Institute of Physics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
²Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

* Presenter:Yen Chieh Lee, email:liamlee2113@gmail.com

Rare-earth compounds, known for their strong magnetic moments and complex electronic interactions, offer a platform to research their nontrivial properties, such as heavy fermion behavior, charge density waves (CDW), and topological magnetism. Understanding phase changes in these materials is crucial for their potential applications. In this study, we investigate the effects of mechanical strain on Europium (Eu) compounds to control phase changes. Mechanical strain is a powerful technique for tuning material properties. It can modify band structures and geometric phases, leading to significant changes in electronic and magnetic behaviors. Here, we demonstrate tunable transport properties using a homemade strain cell driven by piezoelectric devices, providing a platform to explore the interplay between lattice and electronic degrees of freedom. We apply strain to modulate the CDW phase, tuning the CDW transition temperature. Our findings underscore how strain can control electronic phases in Eu compounds, opening opportunities for potential applications in spintronics and quantum devices. This study contributes to a broader understanding of strain-induced phenomena in correlated electron systems and rare-earth magnetism.

Keywords: Mechanical Strain, Elastoresistivity, Spintronics, Charge Density Wave