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Investigation of quantum criticality in α-RuCl<sub>3</sub> by means of dilatometry

POSTER

Abstract

The quantum spin liquid candidate α-RuCl3 shows field-induced quantum criticality around μ0Hc~7-8 T, where the antiferromagnetic zigzag phase is suppressed [1,2]. Such behavior can be studied via the characteristic divergence in the temperature and field dependence of the Grüneisen parameter [3].
Here, we present high-resolution thermal expansion α, magnetostriction λ, and specific-heat (Cp) measurements, performed on single crystals of α-RuCl3. The length changes were measured parallel to the c axis stacking direction for magnetic field perpendicular to the c axis up to 15 T. The extracted Grüneisen parameter G= α/Cp shows typical hallmarks for quantum critical behavior, with G diverging in a characteristic manner at μ0Hc = 7.8(1) T. Furthermore, our thermodynamic investigations show clear evidence for the existence of three different low-temperature phases in the examined field range in line with recent magnetocaloric and neutron diffraction measurements [4]. We present calculations for thermal expansion and Grüneisen parameter in a minimal lattice model.

[1] R. D. Johnson et. al., PRB 92, 235119 (2015)
[2] A. U. B. Wolter et. al., PRB 96, 041405(R) (2017)
[3] Markus Garst and Achim Rosch, PRB 72, 205129 (2005)
[4] Christian Balz et al., Phys. Rev. B 100, 060405(R) (2019)

Presenters

  • Vilmos Kocsis

    RIKEN, Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Japan, Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, RIKEN CEMS

Authors

  • Anja Wolter

    Inst for Festkorper Werkstoffforschung, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Sebastian Gass

    Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Laura T. Corredor

    Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Vilmos Kocsis

    RIKEN, Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Japan, Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, RIKEN CEMS

  • Lukas Janssen

    TU Dresden, Physics, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technical University of Dresden

  • Matthias Vojta

    TU Dresden, Physics, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technical University of Dresden

  • Paula J Kelley

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • 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

  • Bernd Buechner

    Leibniz IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstr. 20, D-01069 Dresden, Germany, Inst for Festkorper Werkstoffforschung, IFW Dresden, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, IFW - Dresden