Magnetoelastic coupling across the field-induced transition of uranium mononitride

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • D. I. Gorbunov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • T. Nomura - , 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, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Author)
  • M. S. Henriques - , Czech Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • A. V. Andreev - , Czech Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Y. Skourski - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • G. A. Zvyagina - , NASU - B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering (Author)
  • R. Troć - , Polish Academy of Sciences, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • S. Zherlitsyn - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

Uranium mononitride (UN) displays a spin-flop-like transition for magnetic field applied along all principal crystallographic directions just below 60 T. Here, we report on ultrasound and magnetocaloric-effect results for UN in pulsed magnetic fields up to 65 T. The field-induced phase transition causes a discontinuous temperature decrease, indicating a larger magnetic entropy above the transition. Furthermore, we find pronounced anomalies in the acoustic properties, which signals strong spin-lattice interactions. A further anomaly observed at fields slightly above the transition is likely related to the formation of magnetic domains. A model based on the exchange-striction coupling mechanism well reproduces the strong renormalization of the acoustic properties.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number024417
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume100
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2019
Peer-reviewedYes