Physical properties of a candidate quantum spin-ice system Pr2Hf2O7

Abstract

Physical properties of a pyrohafnate compound Pr2Hf2O7 have been investigated by ac magnetic susceptibility χ_ ac(T), dc magnetic susceptibility χ(T), isothermal magnetization M(H) and heat capacity C_p(T) measurements on polycrystalline as well as single crystal samples combined with high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural characterization and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to determine the crystal field energy level scheme and wave functions. Synchrotron XRD data confirm the ordered cubic pyrochlore (Fd-3m) structure without any noticeable site mixing or oxygen deficiency. No clear evidence of long range magnetic ordering is observed down to 90 mK, however the χ_ac(T) evinces slow spin dynamics revealed by a frequency dependent broad peak associated with spin freezing. The INS data reveal the expected five well defined magnetic excitations due to crystal field splitting of the J = 4 ground state multiplet of the Pr^3+. The crystal field parameters and ground state wavefunction of Pr^3+ have been determined. The Ising anisotropic nature of magnetic ground state is inferred from the INS as well as χ(T) and M(H) data. Together these properties make Pr2Hf2O7 a candidate compound for quantum spin-ice behavior.

12 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables

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• Muon spin relaxation and inelastic neutron scattering investigations of all-in/all-out antiferromagnet Nd2Hf2O7
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• Evolution of antiferromagnetic domains in the all-in-all-out ordered pyrochlore Nd${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$
• Evidence for a dynamical ground state in a frustrated pyrohafnate Tb2Hf2O7
• Single crystal growth, structure and magnetic properties of Pr2Hf2O7 pyrochlore
• Low temperature magnetic properties of Nd2Ru2O7
• Long-range dynamical magnetic order and spin tunneling in the cooperative paramagnetic states of the pyrochlore analogous spinel antiferromagnets CdYb2X4 (X = S, Se)
• Spectroscopy of spinons in Coulomb quantum spin liquids
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• Signatures of hidden octupolar order from nonlinear Hall effects
• Quadrupolar Singlet Ground State of Praseodymium in a Modulated Pyrochlore
• Deviation from the dipole-ice model in the new spinel spin-ice candidate, MgEr${}_2$Se${}_4$
• Optimization of single crystal growth of candidate quantum spin-ice Pr2Hf2O7 by optical floating-zone method
• Multi-scale Quantum Criticality driven by Kondo-lattice Coupling in Pyrochlore Systems
• Field induced spin freezing and low temperature heat capacity of disordered pyrochlore oxide Ho${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$
• Magnetization beyond the Ising limit of Ho${}_2$Ti${}_2$O${}_7$
• Ultrasound detection of emergent photons in generic quantum spin ice
• Crystal growth, characterization and phase transition of PbCuTe${}_2$O${}_6$
• Dynamical Axions in $U(1)$ Quantum Spin Liquids
• Hybrid Dyons, inverted Lorentz force and magnetic Nernst effect in quantum spin ice
• Thermodynamics of the dipole-octupole pyrochlore magnet Ce${}_2$Hf${}_2$O${}_7$ in applied magnetic fields
• Traversing the pyrochlore stability diagram; microwave-assisted synthesis and discovery of mixed B-site Ln${}_2$InSbO${}_7$ family
• Revisiting spin ice physics in the ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore Pr${}_2$Sn${}_2$O${}_7$
• Collective magnetic state induced by charge disorder in the non-Kramers rare-earth pyrochlore Tb${}_2$ScNbO${}_7$
• Spin-lattice Coupling in U(1) Quantum Spin Liquids
• Quantum Spin Liquids in Pyrochlore Magnets With Non-Kramers Local Moments
• Spinon band flattening by its emergent gauge field in quantum kagome ice
• Influence of controlled disorder on the dipolar spin ice state of Ho-based pyrochlores
• Disorder-induced proximate quantum spin ice phase in Pr2Sn2O7