Anisotropic Magnetic Correlations in Quantum Spin Ice candidate Pr₂Sn₂O₇

We present single-crystal neutron diffuse scattering data of Pr₂Sn₂O₇, a promising quantum spin ice (QSI) candidate and sister compound to the well-studied Pr₂Zr₂O₇. At temperatures of T=0.3 K and T=1 K, we observe magnetic diffuse scattering with a characteristic pinch-point pattern in reciprocal space. Notably, the equal-time magnetic structure factor at T=0.3 K shows greater anisotropy between the [111] and [001] directions and more suppression at the pinch points compared to T=1 K. Using quantitative analysis of the diffuse scattering data with the Spinteract program [1], we estimate magnetic interactions of Pr₂Sn₂O₇ and compare the temperature dependence of pinch-point features with QSI predictions [2].



[1] Paddison, Joseph AM. "Spinteract: a program to refine magnetic interactions to diffuse scattering data." Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 35.49 (2023): 495802

[2] Benton, Owen, Olga Sikora, and Nic Shannon. "Seeing the light: Experimental signatures of emergent electromagnetism in a quantum spin ice." Physical Review B— Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 86.7 (2012): 075154.