Revisiting spin ice physics in the ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore Pr${}_2$Sn${}_2$O${}_7$

Abstract

Pyrochlore materials are characterized by their hallmark network of corner-sharing rare-earth tetrahedra, which can produce a wide array of complex magnetic ground states. Ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlores often obey the "two-in-two-out" spin ice rules, which can lead to a highly-degenerate spin structure. Large moment systems, such as Ho${}_2$Ti${}_2$O${}_7$ and Dy${}_2$Ti${}_2$O${}_7$, tend to host a classical spin ice state with low-temperature spin freezing and emergent magnetic monopoles. Systems with smaller effective moments, such as Pr${}^{3+}$-based pyrochlores, have been proposed as excellent candidates for hosting a "quantum spin ice" characterized by entanglement and a slew of exotic quasiparticle excitations. However, experimental evidence for a quantum spin ice state has remained elusive. Here, we show that the low-temperature magnetic properties of Pr${}_2$Sn${}_2$O${}_7$ satisfy several important criteria for continued consideration as a quantum spin ice. We find that Pr${}_2$Sn${}_2$O${}_7$ exhibits a partially spin-frozen ground state with a large volume fraction of dynamic magnetism. Our comprehensive bulk characterization and neutron scattering measurements enable us to map out the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram, producing results consistent with expectations for a ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore. We identify key hallmarks of spin ice physics, and show that the application of small magnetic fields (${\mu }_0{H}_c\sim$0.75T) suppresses the spin ice state and induces a long-range ordered magnetic structure. Together, our work clarifies the current state of Pr${}_2$Sn${}_2$O${}_7$ and encourages future studies aimed at exploring the potential for a quantum spin ice ground state in this system.

References in corpus (11)

• Experimental identification of quantum spin liquids
• A.C. susceptibility as a probe of low-frequency magnetic dynamics
• Disordered Route to the Coulomb Quantum Spin Liquid: Random Transverse Fields on Spin Ice in Pr${}_2$Zr${}_2$O${}_7$
• Antiferro-quadrupolar correlations in the quantum spin ice candidate Pr2Zr2O7
• Synthesis, floating zone crystal growth and characterization of the Quantum Spin Ice $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{r}}_2\mathrm{Z}{\mathrm{r}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$ pyrochlore
• Physical properties of a candidate quantum spin-ice system Pr2Hf2O7
• Single crystal growth, structure and magnetic properties of Pr2Hf2O7 pyrochlore
• Evidence for the Confinement of Magnetic Monopoles in Quantum Spin Ice
• Ordered spin-ice state in the geometrically frustrated metallic-ferromagnet Sm2Mo2O7
• Optimization of single crystal growth of candidate quantum spin-ice Pr2Hf2O7 by optical floating-zone method
• Traversing the pyrochlore stability diagram; microwave-assisted synthesis and discovery of mixed B-site Ln${}_2$InSbO${}_7$ family

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Quantum Spin Liquids in Pyrochlore Magnets With Non-Kramers Local Moments
• Influence of controlled disorder on the dipolar spin ice state of Ho-based pyrochlores
• Disorder-induced proximate quantum spin ice phase in Pr2Sn2O7