Ongoing Mössbauer spectroscopy at the IFMP: Investigation of magnetism in FeNb₄S₈ and TMSn(OH)₆

Abstract

Mössbauer spectroscopy (MBS) is a nuclear local-probe methods which can be used to study magnetic and electronic hyperfine interactions of the probe nucleus and its surroundings. In this talk I will introduce the fundamentals of MBS as applied in solid-state physics, and give an overview of the experiments I carried out as part of my 6-month masters studies (“Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten”) at the IFMP. One focus is the proposed altermagnetic compound FeNb₄S₈. This intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide was investigated using ⁵⁷Fe MBS to confirm the magnetic structure and the orientation of the local electric field gradient. I will discuss the implications of our findings on the temperature-dependent magnetic and electronic structure of this material. Additionally, as a first in our local laboratory, ¹¹⁹Sn MBS measurements have been performed on the tin-based hydroxide materials TMSn(OH)₆ (TM = Fe, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni). Here I will discuss the challenges to quantify possible small magnetic effects with MBS and the experimental advantages of employing a reference sample (in this case SnCl₂) measured simultaneously to increase measurement precision.

Zoom: 633 2801 2201, Passcode: IFMP2025-6