Quantum Critical Scaling in Quasi-One-Dimensional YbFe${}_5$P${}_3$

Abstract

We report measurements of the low temperature magnetization $M$ and specific heat $C$ as a function of temperature and magnetic field of the quasi-one-dimensional spin chain, heavy fermion compound YbFe${}_5$P${}_3$, which resides close to a quantum critical point. The results are compared to the predictions of scaling laws obtained from a generalized free energy function expected near an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point (AFQCP). The scaling behavior depends on the dimensionality $d$ of the fluctuations, the coherence length exponent $\hat{I}½$, and the dynamic exponent $z$. The free energy treats the magnetic field as a relevant renormalization group variable, which leads to a new exponent $\ddot{I}•=\hat{I}½z_h$, where $z_h$ is a dynamic exponent expected in the presence of a magnetic field. When $z_h=z$, $T/H$ scaling is expected, as observed in several compounds close to a QCP; whereas in YbFe${}_5$P${}_3$, a $T/H^{3/4}$ dependence of the scaling is observed. This dependence reflects the relationship $z_h=(4z/3)$ and a field exponent $\ddot{I}•=4/3$. A feature of the scaling law is that it restricts the possible values of the exponents to two cases for YbFe${}_5$P${}_3$: $d$=1, $\hat{I}½$=1, $z$=1, and $d$=2, $\hat{I}½$=1/2, $z$=2.

17 pages (including Supplemental Material)