Acoustic signatures of the phases and phase transitions in Yb2Ti2 O7

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Subhro Bhattacharjee - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Author)
  • S. Erfanifam - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Shahid Beheshti University (Author)
  • E. L. Green - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • M. Naumann - , Chair of Surface Physics, Institute of Solid State and Materials Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Zhaosheng Wang - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • S. Granovsky - , Chair of Experimental Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Author)
  • M. Doerr - , Chair of Experimental Physics (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • A. A. Zvyagin - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, NASU - B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering (Author)
  • R. Moessner - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (Author)
  • A. Maljuk - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • S. Wurmehl - , TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • B. Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • S. Zherlitsyn - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

We report on measurements of the sound velocity and attenuation in a single crystal of the candidate quantum-spin-ice material Yb2Ti2O7 as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The acoustic modes couple to the spins magnetoelastically and, hence, carry information about the spin correlations that sheds light on the intricate magnetic phase diagram of Yb2Ti2O7 and the nature of spin dynamics in the material. Particularly, we find a pronounced thermal hysteresis in the acoustic data with a concomitant peak in the specific heat indicating a possible first-order phase transition at about 0.17 K. At low temperatures, the acoustic response to magnetic field saturates hinting at the development of magnetic order. The experimental data are consistent with a first-order phase transition from a cooperative paramagnet to a ferromagnet below T≈0.17 K, as shown by fitting the data with a phenomenological mean-field theory.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number144412
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume93
Issue number14
Publication statusPublished - 12 Apr 2016
Peer-reviewedYes