Structural and Magnetic Investigations of Single-Crystals of the Neodymium Zirconate Pyrochlore, Nd2Zr2O7

Abstract

We report structural and magnetic properties studies of large high quality single-crystals of the frustrated magnet, Nd${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$. Powder x-ray diffraction analysis confirms that Nd${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$ adopts the pyrochlore structure. Room-temperature x-ray diffraction and time-of-flight neutron scattering experiments show that the crystals are stoichiometric in composition with no measurable site disorder. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility shows no magnetic ordering at temperatures down to 0.5 K. Fits to the magnetic susceptibility data using a Curie-Weiss law reveal a ferromagnetic coupling between the Nd moments. Magnetization versus field measurements show a local Ising anisotropy along the <111> axes of the Nd${}^{3+}$ ions in the ground state. Specific heat versus temperature measurements in zero applied magnetic field indicate the presence of a thermal anomaly below $T\sim 7$ K, but no evidence of magnetic ordering is observed down to 0.5 K. The experimental temperature dependence of the single-crystal bulk dc susceptibility and isothermal magnetization are analyzed using crystal field theory and the crystal field parameters and exchange coupling constants determined.

10 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in Physical Review B

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Cited by in corpus (9)

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• Hidden multipolar orders of dipole-octupole doublets on a triangular lattice
• Melting of Spin Ice state through structural disorder in Dy2Zr2O7
• High-Pressure Laser Floating Zone Furnace
• Magnetic properties of monoclinic lanthanide metaborates, $Ln$(BO${}_2$)${}_3$, $Ln$ = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb
• Anisotropic exchange Hamiltonian, magnetic phase diagram and domain inversion of Nd${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$
• Single crystal growth, structure and magnetic properties of Pr2Hf2O7 pyrochlore
• Homogenous reduced moment in a gapful scalar chiral kagome antiferromagnet
• Theory of quantum kagome ice and vison zero modes