Hysteresis and Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Antiferromagnetic $Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the resistivity and magnetoresistance in antiferromagnetic Nd2-xCexCuO4 single crystals, revealing anisotropic behaviors, hysteresis effects, and evidence of itinerant electrons coupled to localized spins across different spin structures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the anisotropic magnetoresistance and hysteresis phenomena in antiferromagnetic cuprates with multiple spin structures.

Findings

Fourfold symmetry in MR within ab plane phases

Twofold symmetry at spin reorientation temperatures

Thermal and magnetic hysteresis observed at transition points

Abstract

The out-of-plane resistivity ($\rho_c$) and magnetoresistivity (MR) are studied in antiferromangetic (AF) $Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}$ single crystals, which have three types of noncollinear antiferromangetic spin structures. The apparent signatures are observed in $\rho_c(T)$ measured at the zero-field and 14 T at the spin structure transitions, giving a definite evidence for the itinerant electrons directly coupled to the localized spins. One of striking feature is an anisotropy of the MR with a fourfold symmetry upon rotating the external field (B) within ab plane in the different phases, while twofold symmetry at spin reorientation transition temperatures. The intriguing thermal hysteresis in $\rho_c(T,B)$ and magnetic hysteresis in MR are observed at spin reorientation transition temperatures.