APS Logo

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

ORAL

Abstract

Here we discuss the implications that new magnetocaloric, thermal expansion and magnetostriction data of α-RuCl3 single crystals have on its temperature-field phase diagram and uncover the magnetic-field dependence of an apparent energy gap Δ(H), extracted from thermal expansion measurements, that evolves when the low temperature antiferromagnetic order is suppressed. We show that, depending on how the thermal expansion data is modeled, Δ(H) can follow a cubic field dependence and remain finite at zero field, consistent with the pure Kitaev model. Our quasi-isothermal magnetocaloric effect data provides, below 1 K, unambiguous evidence for dissipative phenomena at the critical field, smoking gun for a first order phase transition. On the other hand, our results show little support for a phase transition from a quantum spin liquid to a polarized paramagnetic state above the critical field. The results are discussed in the context of possible quantum critical and QSL behavior in α-RuCl3.

–

Presenters

  • Rico Schoenemann

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab

Authors

  • Rico Schoenemann

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Shusaku Imajo

    University of Tokyo

  • Franziska Weickert

    National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab, Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division

  • David George Mandrus

    Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Labratory, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA, Oakridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Materials Science and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, Department of Materials Science, The University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Yasumasa Takano

    Department of Physics, University of Florida, University of Florida, Physics, University of Florida

  • Eric Brosha

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Priscila Rosa

    Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Quantum Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.

  • Stephen E Nagler

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

  • Koichi Kindo

    University of Tokyo, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo

  • Marcelo Jaime

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), Los Alamos