On the Paramagnetic-Like Susceptibility Peaks at Zero Magnetic Field in \(\hbox{WSe}_{2-x}\hbox{Te}_{x}\) Single Crystals

Abstract

A weakly temperature-dependent paramagnetic-like susceptibility peak at zero magnetic field is observed in \(\hbox{WSe}_{2-x}\hbox{Te}_{x}\) with only marginal amount of ferromagnetic impurities. The ferromagnetic hysteresis loop and the magnetic moment splitting between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled processes indicate ferromagnetism in the samples. The paramagnetic-like susceptibility peak height is proportional to the remanent magnetic moment of hysteresis loops. High-resolution transmission electron microscope image supports that the observed ferromagnetic feature originates from lattice distortion. These results imply that the weakly temperature-dependent paramagnetic-like susceptibility peak originates from weak lattice distortion and/or superparamagnetism.