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Thermal and magnetoelastic properties of a-RuCl<sub>3</sub> in the field-induced low temperature states

ORAL

Abstract

Magnetocaloric effect, thermal expansion, and magnetostriction measurements on single crystal α-RuCl3 samples in applied magnetic fields are discussed. α-RuCl3 has been established as a promising candidate for the sought-after physical realization of the Kitaev model, which describes S=1/2 spins on a honeycomb lattice with bond dependent Ising interactions, hosting Majorana fermions as well as a topological quantum spin liquid (QSL) ground state. Recent experimental data indicate signs of a QSL state that emerges in applied magnetic fields, once the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature TN observed in zero field below 7K is suppressed. In order to identify the nature of the phase transitions below TN and to map the phase diagram as a function of magnetic field, we conducted measurements of the magnetocaloric effect in pulse magnetic fields as well as thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements in static fields up to 15 T. The results are discussed in the context of possible quantum critical and QSL behavior in α-RuCl3.

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Presenters

  • Rico Schoenemann

    National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Rico Schoenemann

    National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Shusaku Imajo

    Tokyo University, University of Tokyo

  • Franziska Weickert

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

  • Yasumasa Takano

    Physics, University of Florida, University of Florida

  • Stephen E Nagler

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • David Mandrus

    Physics, University of Tennessee, Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, The University of Tennesse, Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Marcelo Jaime

    Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NHMFL, LANL