Journal Article

FZJ-2022-01374

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Local origin of the strong field-space anisotropy in the magnetic phase diagrams of Ce 1 − x La x B 6 measured in a rotating magnetic field

Inosov, D. S. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Avdoshenko, S. ; Portnichenko, P. Y. ; Choi, E. S. ; Schneidewind, A.FZJ* ; Mignot, J.-M.Extern* ; Nikolo, M. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2021
Inst. Woodbury, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/30768  doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.103.214415

Abstract: Cubic f-electron compounds commonly exhibit highly anisotropic magnetic phase diagrams consisting of multiple long-range ordered phases. Field-driven metamagnetic transitions between them may depend not only on the magnitude, but also on the direction of the applied magnetic field. Examples of such behavior are plentiful among rare-earth borides, such as RB6 or RB12 (R = rare earth). In this work, for example, we use torque magnetometry to measure anisotropic field-angular phase diagrams of La-doped cerium hexaborides, Ce1−xLaxB6 (x=0,0.18,0.28,0.5). One expects that field-directional anisotropy of phase transitions must be impossible to understand without knowing the magnetic structures of the corresponding competing phases and being able to evaluate their precise thermodynamic energy balance. However, this task is usually beyond the reach of available theoretical approaches, because the ordered phases can be noncollinear, possess large magnetic unit cells, involve higher-order multipoles of 4f ions rather than simple dipoles, or just lack sufficient microscopic characterization. Here we demonstrate that the anisotropy under field rotation can be qualitatively understood on a much more basic level of theory, just by considering the crystal-electric-field scheme of a pair of rare-earth ions in the lattice, coupled by a single nearest-neighbor exchange interaction. Transitions between different crystal-field ground states, calculated using this minimal model for the parent compound CeB6, possess field-directional anisotropy that strikingly resembles the experimental phase diagrams. This implies that the anisotropy of phase transitions is of local origin and is easier to describe than the ordered phases themselves.

Keyword(s): Magnetic Materials (1st) ; Condensed Matter Physics (2nd) ; Magnetism (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ)
3. Streumethoden (JCNS-2)
4. JCNS-4 (JCNS-4)

Research Program(s):

1. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (FZJ) (POF4-6G4) (POF4-6G4)

Experiment(s):

1. PANDA: Cold three axes spectrometer (SR2)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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