Papers by Madhab Raj Neupane
Nepal Journals Online, 2023
The built environment in Nepal has undergone significant changes due to the construction of trans... more The built environment in Nepal has undergone significant changes due to the construction of transport infrastructures, particularly roads, and the establishment of local governments in 2015. The Karnali and Far Western Himalayan Region (KAFHR) in Nepal have unique traditional rural settlements characterized by distinctive settlement patterns, house forms, roof structures, building materials, and spaces. In the upper Karnali region, buildings have flat mud roofs called ‘Thada’ and are interconnected at the roof level known as ‘Bada,’ which serves as a public gathering place. In the Far Western region, buildings have sloped roofs covered with slates and are connected through courtyards, narrow passages, and public spaces. The development of road access and the influx of population have transformed these settlements, not only as market centers but also in terms of their patterns and features. The new political and administrative power of municipalities has influenced the self-governance of these settlements. However, they still face significant risks from disasters such as landslides and earthquakes. This paper focuses on analyzing the transformations in two settlements, Chandannath-Jumla and Martadi-Bajura, using a mixed-method approach. The study utilizes secondary data from literature reviews, spatial analysis, and open street maps through a QGIS-based application. Additionally, the knowledge of local citizens is incorporated through key informant interviews, enabling the development of a trajectory of settlement transformation from 2000 to 2020. The analysis identifies various drivers of transformation in socio-cultural, ecological-environmental, economic, and political domains, along with their dynamics. By filling the knowledge gap regarding the transformation process in the KAFHR, this research contributes to understanding process of shaping settlement patterns, forms, features, inclusivity, and sustainability in these regions.
Physical Review Materials
With intricate lattice structures, kagome materials are an excellent platform to study various fa... more With intricate lattice structures, kagome materials are an excellent platform to study various fascinating topological quantum states. In particular, kagome materials, revealing large responses to external stimuli such as pressure or magnetic field, are subject to special investigation. Here, we study the kagome-net HoMn6Sn6 magnet that undergoes paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition (below 376 K) and reveals spin-reorientation transition below 200 K. In this compound, we observe the topological Hall effect and substantial contribution of anomalous Hall effect above 100 K. We unveil the pressure effects on magnetic ordering at a low magnetic field from the pressure tunable magnetization measurement. By utilizing high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, Dirac-like dispersion at the high-symmetry point K is revealed in the vicinity of the Fermi level, which is well supported by the first-principles calculations, suggesting a possible Chern-gapped Dirac cone in this compound. Our investigation will pave the way to understand the magneto-transport and electronic properties of various rare-earth-based kagome magnets.
Weyl semimetal (WSM), a novel state of quantum matter, hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparti... more Weyl semimetal (WSM), a novel state of quantum matter, hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparticles resulting from the breaking of either inversion or time-reversal symmetry. Magnetic WSMs that arise from broken time-reversal symmetry provide an exceptional platform to understand the interplay between magnetic order and Weyl physics, but few WSMs have been realized. Here, we identify CeAlSi as a new non-centrosymmetric magnetic WSM via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles, density-functional theory based calculations. Our surface-sensitive vacuum ultraviolet ARPES data confirms the presence of surface Fermi arcs as, the smoking gun evidence for the existence of the Weyl semimetallic state in CeAlSi. We also observe bulk Weyl cones in CeAlSi using bulk-sensitive soft-X-ray ARPES measurements. In addition, Ce 4f flat bands are found near the Fermi level, indicating that CeAlSi is a unique platform for investigating exotic quantum phenomena resulting from the interaction of topology, magnetism and electronic correlations.
arXiv: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics, Jul 17, 2017
Topological Dirac semimetals with accidental band touching between conduction and valence bands p... more Topological Dirac semimetals with accidental band touching between conduction and valence bands protected by time reversal and inversion symmetry are at the frontier of modern condensed matter research. A majority of discovered topological semimetals are nonmagnetic and conserve time reversal symmetry. Here we report the experimental discovery of an antiferromagnetic topological nodal-line semimetallic state in GdSbTe using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our systematic study reveals the detailed electronic structure of the paramagnetic state of antiferromagnetic GdSbTe. We observe the presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets including a diamond-shape, and small circular pockets around the zone center and high symmetry X points of the Brillouin zone (BZ), respectively. Furthermore, we observe the presence of a Dirac-like state at the X point of the BZ and the effect of magnetism along the nodal-line direction. Interestingly, our experimental data show a robust Dirac-like state both below and above the magnetic transition temperature (T N = 13 K). Having a relatively high transition temperature, GdSbTe provides an archetypical platform to study the interaction between magnetism and topological states of matter.
Yangyang Liu, Gyanendra Dhakal, Anup Pradhan Sakhya, John E. Beetar, Firoza Kabir, Sabin Regmi, D... more Yangyang Liu, Gyanendra Dhakal, Anup Pradhan Sakhya, John E. Beetar, Firoza Kabir, Sabin Regmi, Dariusz Kaczorowski, Michael Chini, 3 Benjamin M. Fregoso†,4 and Madhab Neupane†1 Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Okólna 2, 50-422 Wroc law, Poland CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA (Dated: November 10, 2021)
Physical Review Materials, 2022
Physical Review Research, 2021
Physical Review Materials, 2020
Symmetry plays a major role in all disciplines of physics. Within the field of topological materi... more Symmetry plays a major role in all disciplines of physics. Within the field of topological materials there is a great interest in understanding how the mechanics of crystalline and internal symmetries protect crossings between the conduction and valence bands. Additionally, exploring this direction can lead to a deeper understanding on the topological properties of crystals hosting a variety of symmetries. For the first time, we report the experimental observation of topological surface states in the nodal loop semimetal HfP2 using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) which is supported by our first principles calculations. Our study shows termination dependent surface states in this compound. Our experimental data reveal surface states linked to three unique nodal loops confirmed by theoretical calculation to be topologically non-trivial. This work demonstrates that transition metal dipnictides provide a good platform to study non-trivial topological states protected b...
Frontiers in Materials, 2021
Three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) has emerged as a unique state of quantum matter... more Three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) has emerged as a unique state of quantum matter and generated enormous interests in condensed matter physics. The surfaces of a 3D TI consist of a massless Dirac cone, which is characterized by the Z2 topological invariant. Introduction of magnetism on the surface of a TI is essential to realize the quantum anomalous Hall effect and other novel magneto-electric phenomena. Here, by using a combination of first-principles calculations, magneto-transport and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we study the electronic properties of gadolinium (Gd)-doped Sb2Te3. Our study shows that Gd doped Sb2Te3 is a spin-orbit-induced bulk band-gap material, whose surface is characterized by a single topological surface state. Our results provide a new platform to investigate the interactions between dilute magnetism and topology in magnetic doped topological materials.
arXiv: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics, 2019
Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, which support low-energy quasiparticles in condensed matte... more Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, which support low-energy quasiparticles in condensed matter physics, are currently attracting intense interest due to exotic physical properties such as large magnetoresistance and high carrier mobilities. Transition metal diarsenides such as MoAs2 and WAs2 have been reported to harbor very high magnetoresistance suggesting the possible existence of a topological quantum state, although this conclusion remains dubious. Here, based on systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and parallel first-principles calculations, we investigate the electronic properties of TAs2 (T = Mo, W). Importantly, clear evidence for switching the single-Dirac cone surface state in MoAs2 with the cleaving plane is observed, whereas a Dirac state is not observed in WAs2 despite its high magnetoresistance. Our study thus reveals the key role of the terminated plane in a low-symmetry system, and provides a new perspective on how terminatio...
Scientific Reports, 2020
The rare-earth monopnictide family is attracting an intense current interest driven by its unusua... more The rare-earth monopnictide family is attracting an intense current interest driven by its unusual extreme magnetoresistance (XMR) property and the potential presence of topologically non-trivial surface states. The experimental observation of non-trivial surface states in this family of materials are not ubiquitous. Here, using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, magnetotransport, and parallel first-principles modeling, we examine the nature of electronic states in HoSb. Although we find the presence of bulk band gaps at the $$\Gamma$$ Γ and X-symmetry points of the Brillouin zone, we do not find these gaps to exhibit band inversion so that HoSb does not host a Dirac semimetal state. Our magnetotransport measurements indicate that HoSb can be characterized as a correlated nearly-complete electron-hole-compensated semimetal. Our analysis reveals that the nearly perfect electron-hole compensation could drive the appearance of non-saturating XMR effect in HoSb.
Physical Review B, 2021
Recently, kagome materials have become an engrossing platform to study the interplay among symmet... more Recently, kagome materials have become an engrossing platform to study the interplay among symmetry, magnetism, topology, and electron correlation. The latest works on RMn6Sn6 (R = rare earth metal) compounds have illustrated that this family could be intriguing to investigate various physical phenomena due to large spin-orbit coupling and strong magnetic ordering. However, combined transport and spectroscopic studies in RMn6Sn6 materials are still limited. Here, we report magnetic, magneto-transport, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements of a kagome magnet ErMn6Sn6 that undergoes antiferromagnetic (TN = 345 K) to ferrimagnetic (TC = 68 K) phase transitions in the presence of field. We observe large anomalous and topological Hall effects serving as transport signatures of the nontrivial Berry curvature. The isothermal magnetization exhibits strong anisotropic nature and the topological Hall effect of the compound depends on the critical field of metamagnetic transition. Our spectroscopic results complemented by theoretical calculations show the multi-orbital kagome fermiology. This work provides new insight into the tunability and interplay of topology and magnetism in a kagome magnet.
Scientific Reports, 2020
The prediction of non-trivial topological electronic states in half-Heusler compounds makes these... more The prediction of non-trivial topological electronic states in half-Heusler compounds makes these materials good candidates for discovering new physics and devices as half-Heusler phases harbour a variety of electronic ground states, including superconductivity, antiferromagnetism, and heavy-fermion behaviour. Here, we report a systematic studies of electronic properties of a superconducting half-Heusler compound YPtBi, in its normal state, investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our data reveal the presence of a Dirac state at the $$\Gamma$$Γ point of the Brillouin zone at 500 meV below the Fermi level. We observe the presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets, including two concentric hexagonal and six half-oval shaped pockets at the $$\Gamma$$Γ and K points of the Brillouin zone, respectively. Furthermore, our measurements show Rashba-split bands and multiple surface states crossing the Fermi level, this is also supported by the first-principles calculations...
Scientific Reports, 2020
The topological nodal-line semimetal (TNS) is a unique class of materials with a one dimensional ... more The topological nodal-line semimetal (TNS) is a unique class of materials with a one dimensional line node accompanied by a nearly dispersionless two-dimensional surface state. However, a direct observation of the so called drumhead surface state within current nodal-line materials is still elusive. Here, using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) along with first-principles calculations, we report the observation of a topological nodal-loop (TNL) in SrAs3, whereas CaAs3 exhibits a topologically trivial state. Our data reveal that surface projections of the bulk nodal-points are connected by clear drumhead surface states in SrAs3. Furthermore, our magneto-transport and magnetization data clearly suggest the presence (absence) of surface states in SrAs3 (CaAs3). Notably, the observed topological states in SrAs3 are well separated from other bands in the vicinity of the Fermi level. RAs3 where R = Ca, Sr, thus, offers a unique opportunity to realize an arc...
Review of Scientific Instruments, 2020
Characterizing and controlling electronic properties of quantum materials require direct measurem... more Characterizing and controlling electronic properties of quantum materials require direct measurements of non-equilibrium electronic band structures over large regions of momentum space. Here, we demonstrate an experimental apparatus for time-and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy using high-order harmonic probe pulses generated by a robust, moderately high power (20 W) Yb:KGW amplifier with tunable repetition rate between 50 and 150 kHz. By driving high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with the second harmonic of the fundamental 1025 nm laser pulses, we show that single-harmonic probe pulses at 21.8 eV photon energy can be effectively isolated without the use of a monochromator. The on-target photon flux can reach 5 × 10 10 photons/second at 50 kHz, and the time resolution is measured to be 320 fs. The relatively long pulse duration of the Yb-driven HHG source allows us to reach an excellent energy resolution of 21.5 meV, which is achieved by suppressing the space-charge broadening using a low photon flux of 1.5 × 10 8 photons/second at a higher repetition rate of 150 kHz. The capabilities of the setup are demonstrated through measurements in the topological semimetal ZrSiS and the topological insulator Sb 2−x Gd x Te 3 .
Physical Review B, 2018
The experimental discovery of the topological Dirac semimetal establishes a platform to search fo... more The experimental discovery of the topological Dirac semimetal establishes a platform to search for various exotic quantum phases in real materials. ZrSiS-type materials have recently emerged as topological nodal-line semimetals where gapped Dirac-like surface states are observed. Here, we present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of ZrGeTe, a nonsymmorphic symmetry protected Dirac semimetal. We observe two Dirac-like gapless surface states at the sameX point of the Brillouin zone. Our theoretical analysis and first-principles calculations reveal that these are protected by crystalline symmetry. Hence, ZrGeTe appears as a rare example of a naturally fine tuned system where the interplay between symmorphic and non-symmorphic symmetry leads to rich phenomenology, and thus opens for opportunities to investigate the physics of Dirac semimetallic and topological insulating phases realized in a single material.
Scientific Reports, 2018
Topological Dirac semimetals with accidental band touching between conduction and valence bands p... more Topological Dirac semimetals with accidental band touching between conduction and valence bands protected by time reversal and inversion symmetry are at the frontier of modern condensed matter research. A majority of discovered topological semimetals are nonmagnetic and conserve time reversal symmetry. Here we report the experimental discovery of an antiferromagnetic topological nodal-line semimetallic state in GdSbTe using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our systematic study reveals the detailed electronic structure of the paramagnetic state of antiferromagnetic GdSbTe. We observe the presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets including a diamond-shape, and small circular pockets around the zone center and high symmetry X points of the Brillouin zone (BZ), respectively. Furthermore, we observe the presence of a Dirac-like state at the X point of the BZ and the effect of magnetism along the nodal-line direction. Interestingly, our experimental data show a robust Dirac-like state both below and above the magnetic transition temperature (T N = 13 K). Having a relatively high transition temperature, GdSbTe provides an archetypical platform to study the interaction between magnetism and topological states of matter.
Nature communications, Aug 1, 2018
Among the quantum materials that have recently gained interest are the topological insulators, wh... more Among the quantum materials that have recently gained interest are the topological insulators, wherein symmetry-protected surface states cross in reciprocal space, and the Dirac nodal-line semimetals, where bulk bands touch along a line in k-space. However, the existence of multiple fermion phases in a single material has not been verified yet. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles electronic structure calculations, we systematically study the metallic material HfTeP and discover properties, which are unique in a single topological quantum material. We experimentally observe weak topological insulator surface states and our calculations suggest additional strong topological insulator surface states. Our first-principles calculations reveal a one-dimensional Dirac crossing-the surface Dirac-node arc-along a high-symmetry direction which is confirmed by our ARPES measurements. This novel state originates from the surface bands of a weak topologic...
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Papers by Madhab Raj Neupane