Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Axions in the early universe

  Francesco D'Eramo

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 005 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The Peccei-Quinn solution to the strong CP problem provides a motivated framework rich in cosmological consequence. Thermal axion production is unavoidable if there is a thermal bath at early times. Scattering and decay processes of bath particles can dump relativistic axions in the primordial plasma, and they can leave observable signatures in cosmological observables probing both the early and the late universe if produced with a significant abundance. We present recent and significant improvements for the calculation of the axion production rate for different scenarios and apply these results to predict the abundance of produced axions. Finally, we provide updated cosmological bounds on the QCD axion mass.

  1 citation

• Annual modulation of dark matter signals: Experimental results and new ideas

  Felix Kahlhoefer

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 004 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Direct detection experiments searching for the scattering of dark matter particles off nuclei expect an annual modulation in their event rate. In this presentation, I will review the theoretical predictions and the experimental status of the search for annual modulations, with a focus on ongoing and planned experiments using NaI detectors. In particular, I will discuss the interpretation of the DAMA signal and related model-building efforts.

• Dark matter bound states: A window into the early universe

  Juri Smirnov

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 003 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Despite significant experimental sensitivity to point-like, weakly interacting particles at the electroweak mass scale, dark matter has not been found yet. This could hint at a more complex dark sector with multiple states or composite dark particles, much like the complexity of the standard model. Currently, our experimental sensitivity to such scenarios is limited by a lack of theoretical understanding. The investigation of Dark Matter systems with unstable or stable bound states provides a playground that leads to the development of important tools needed for the understanding of dark sectors with complex phenomena and allows to experimentally test well-motivated DM scenarios.

  1 citation

• Directional dark matter searches

  Elisabetta Baracchini

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 002 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The importance of directly detect and experimentally probe the nature of Dark Matter (DM) is universally and incontrovertibly recognised as one of the most compelling tasks of today's fundamental physics. Directional DM searches aim at developing experimental techniques that can give access to the measurement of the incoming direction of the DM particle. This can provide a correlation with an astrophysical source that no background whatsoever can mimic and offers an unique key for a positive, unambiguous identification of a DM signal.

• Even lighter particle dark matter

  Alvaro E. Chavarria

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 001 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We report on recent progress in the search for dark matter particles with masses from 1 Mev to 1 Gev . Several dark matter candidates in this mass range are expected to generate measurable electronic-recoil signals in direct-detection experiments. We focus on dark matter particles scattering with electrons in semiconductor detectors since they have fundamentally the highest sensitivity due to their low ionization threshold. Charge-coupled device (CCD) silicon detectors are the leading technology, with significant progress expected in the coming years. We present the status of the CCD program and briefly report on other efforts.

  1 citation

• From magnetic order to valence-change crossover in EuPd$_2$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_2$ using He-gas pressure

  Bernd Wolf, Felix Spathelf, Jan Zimmermann, Theresa Lundbeck, Marius Peters, Kristin Kliemt, Cornelius Krellner, Michael Lang

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 11, 022 (2023) · published 19 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present results of magnetic susceptibility and thermal expansion measurements performed on high-quality single crystals of EuPd$_2$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_2$ for 0 $\leq x \leq$ 0.2 and temperatures 2 K $\leq T \leq$ 300 K. Data were taken at ambient pressure and finite He-gas pressure $p$ $\leq$ 0.5 GPa. For $x = 0$ and ambient pressure we observe a pronounced valence-change crossover centred around $T'_V$ $\approx$ 160 K with a non-magnetic ground state. This valence-change crossover is characterized by an extraordinarily strong pressure dependence of d$T'_V$ /d$p$ = (80 $\pm 10)$ K/GPa. We observe a shift of $T'_V$ to lower temperatures with increasing Ge-concentration, reaching $T'_V$ $\approx$ 90 K for $x = 0.1$, while still showing a non-magnetic ground state. Remarkably, on further increasing $x$ to 0.2 we find a stable Eu$^{(2+\delta)+}$ valence with long-range antiferromagnetic order below $T_N$ = (47.5 $\pm$ 0.1) K, reflecting a close competition between two energy scales in this system. In fact, by the application of hydrostatic pressure as small as 0.1 GPa, the ground state of this system can be changed from long-range antiferromagnetic order for $p$ $<$ 0.1 GPa to an intermediate-valence state for $p$ $\geq$ 0.1 GPa.

  1 citation

• Magnetic, electronic, and structural investigation of the strongly correlated Y$_{1-x}$Sm$_{x}$Co$_5$ system

  F. Passos, D. Cornejo, G. J. Nilsen, V. Martelli, J. Larrea Jiménez

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 11, 021 (2023) · published 6 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  SmCo$_5$ and YCo$_5$ are isostructural compounds both showing large magnetocrystalline anisotropy, where the former originates mainly from the crystal-electric field and magnetic interactions. We investigate the contribution of both interactions by partially substituting Y by Sm in as-cast polycrystalline Y$_{1-x}$Sm$_{x}$Co$_5$ (with $x$=0.00, 0.12, 0.18, 0.31, and 0.40) and measuring their structural, magnetic, and electrical properties through X-ray diffraction, magnetization, and electrical transport measurements. Our results suggest an interplay between microstructure strain in as-cast samples and the electronic and magnetic interactions.

• Composition dependence of the specific heat of FeSi

  Carolina Burger, Andreas Bauer, Christian Pfleiderer

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 11, 020 (2023) · published 6 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Recently, a high-mobility surface conduction channel and in-gap states were identified in the correlated small-gap semiconductor FeSi using electrical transport measurements and high-resolution tunneling spectroscopy. The mobility of the charge carriers in the surface channel is quantitatively reminiscent of topological insulators, but displays a lack of sensitivity to the presence of ferromagnetic impurities as studied by means of a series of single crystals with slightly different starting compositions. Here, we report measurements of the specific heat of these crystals. At low temperatures, a shallow maximum is observed in the specific heat divided by temperature. This maximum is suppressed under magnetic field, characteristic of a Schottky anomaly associated with magnetic impurities. In comparison, the height of this maximum decreases with increasing initial iron content.

• In-plane Fermi surface mapping of ZrSiS and HfSiS by de Haas-van Alphen oscillations

  Bruno Gudac, Mihovil Bosnar, Filip Orbanić, Trpimir Ivšić, Ivan Kokanović, Mario Novak

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 11, 019 (2023) · published 6 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We have conducted a comprehensive experimental investigation of the in-plane de Haas van Alphen quantum oscillations in ZrSiS and HfSiS and compared the results to the ab-initio calculations. We found a moderately good agreement for a set of frequencies located between 100 T and 200 T. These could be associated with extremal orbitals of the electron pockets located around the $k_z=\pm\pi/2c$ planes at the edge of the 1st Brillouin zone. In contrast, the experimentally detected low-frequency set of oscillations found around 20 T could not be reproduced by the calculations. Further refinement of the ab-initio calculation has to be conducted to fully capture all the observed features of the Fermi surface in ZrSiS and HfSiS.

• Pressure-dependent structural and electronic instabilities in LaSb$_2$

  Theodore I. Weinberger, Christian K. de Podesta, Jiasheng Chen, Stephen A. Hodgson, F. Malte Grosche

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 11, 018 (2023) · published 6 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  LaSb$_2$ exhibits a large, non-saturating, linear magnetoresistance at low temperatures, defying the expectations of Fermi liquid theory. This is thought to be caused by charge density wave order emerging below an abrupt, hysteretic anomaly in the resistivity at $\sim$ 355 K. We find that, under hydrostatic pressure, this anomaly becomes much more pronounced, develops strong hysteresis, and shifts rapidly towards lower temperatures. The anomaly is fully suppressed by only 6 kbar. Moreover, we observe a second transition anomaly at lower temperature, which likewise disappears under pressure. These findings are discussed in the context of a structural transition recently discovered in the sister material CeSb$_2$ and of density functional theory calculations, which indicate that the SmSb$_2$-type structure adopted by LaSb$_2$ at ambient conditions is unstable at moderate applied pressures.