Quantum critical fluctuations in a transverse-field Ising magnet

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Contributors

Abstract

CoNb2O6 is a model system for a spin-1/2 one-dimensional (1D) transverse-field Ising magnet (TFIM) with a rather low three-dimensional (3D) Néel ordering temperature at T N = 2.95 K. We studied CoNb2O6 using ultrasound measurements down to 0.3 K in transverse magnetic fields applied along the b direction. Upon entering the 3D ordered state, we observe pronounced anomalies in the transverse acoustic mode c 66. In particular, from 1.3 to 1.5 K and around 4.7 T, this mode reveals an almost diverging softening, which is considerably reduced at lower and higher magnetic fields. We interpret this as an influence of quantum critical fluctuations emerging from the quantum critical point (QCP) of the 1D Ising spin chains at about 4.75 T, which lies below the QCP of the 3D ordering at about 5.4 T. This is clear experimental evidence of the predicted generic phase diagram for a TFIM with superimposed 3D ordering.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number325801
JournalJournal of Physics Condensed Matter
Volume36
Issue number32
Publication statusPublished - 14 Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38684155

Keywords

Keywords

  • quantum critical fluctuations, quantum critical point, transverse-field ising magnet