Dilute Paramagnetism and Non-Trivial Topology in Quasicrystal Approximant Fe$_4$Al$_{13}$

TL;DR

This study explores the magnetic and electronic properties of Fe$_4$Al$_{13}$, revealing unusual paramagnetism and non-trivial topological features in a quasicrystal approximant, challenging conventional understanding of dilute paramagnetic systems.

Contribution

It reports the growth and characterization of Fe$_4$Al$_{13}$ crystals, discovering unexpected paramagnetic behavior and topological electronic states in a quasicrystal approximant.

Findings

Unusual paramagnetic response without Curie-Weiss behavior.

Electronic structure shows non-trivial topological surface states.

Absence of long-range magnetic order despite flat bands.

Abstract

A very fundamental property of both weakly and strongly interacting materials is the nature of its magnetic response. In this work we detail the growth of crystals of the quasicrystal approximant Fe$_4$Al$_{13}$ with an Al flux solvent method. We characterize our samples using electrical transport and heat capacity, yielding results consistent with a simple non-magnetic metal. However, magnetization measurements portray an extremely unusual response for a dilute paramagnet and do not exhibit the characteristic Curie-Weiss behavior expected for a weakly interacting material at high temperature. Electronic structure calculations confirm metallic behavior, but also indicate that each isolated band near the Fermi energy hosts non-trivial topologies including strong, weak and nodal components, with resultant topological surface states distinguishable from bulk states on the (001) surface. With half-filled flat bands apparent in the calculation but absence of long-range magnetic order, the unusual paramagnetic response suggests the dilute paramagnetic behavior in this quasicrystal approximant is surprising and may serve as a test of the fundamental assumptions that are taken for granted for the magnetic response of weakly interacting systems.