Role of commensurate and incommensurate low-energy excitations in the paramagnetic to hidden-order transition of URu2Si2

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • P. G. Niklowitz - , Royal Holloway University of London (Author)
  • S. R. Dunsiger - , Ohio State University (Author)
  • C. Pfleiderer - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • P. Link - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • A. Schneidewind - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • E. Faulhaber - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • M. Vojta - , Chair of Theoretical Solid State Physics (Author)
  • Y. K. Huang - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • J. A. Mydosh - , Leiden University (Author)

Abstract

We report low-energy inelastic neutron scattering data of the paramagnetic (PM) to hidden-order (HO) phase transition at T0=17.5K in URu2Si2. While confirming previous results for the HO and PM phases, our data reveal a pronounced wave-vector dependence of low-energy excitations across the phase transition. To analyze the energy scans we employ a damped harmonic oscillator model containing a fit parameter 1/Γ which is expected to diverge at a second-order phase transition. Counter to expectations the excitations at Q→ - 1≈(1.4,0,0) show an abrupt steplike suppression of 1/Γ below T0, whereas excitations at Q→ - 0=(1,0,0), associated with large-moment antiferromagnetism (LMAF) under pressure, show an enhancement and a pronounced peak of 1/Γ at T0. Therefore, at the critical HO temperature T0, LMAF fluctuations become nearly critical as well. This is the behavior expected of a "supervector" order parameter with nearly degenerate components for the HO and LMAF leading to nearly isotropic fluctuations in the combined order-parameter space.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number115116
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume92
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 8 Sept 2015
Peer-reviewedYes