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arXiv · 1012.3200

Local suppression of the hidden order phase by impurities in URu2Si2

Abstract

We consider the effects of impurities on the enigmatic hidden order (HO) state of the heavy-fermion material URu2Si2. In particular, we focus on local effects of Rh impurities as a tool to probe the suppression of the HO state. To study local properties we introduce a lattice free energy, where the time invariant HO order parameter "psi" and local antiferromagnetic (AFM) order parameter M are competing orders. Near each Rh atom the HO order parameter is suppressed, creating a hole in which local AFM order emerges as a result of competition. These local holes are created in the fabric of the HO state like in a Swiss cheese and "filled" with droplets of AFM order. We compare our analysis with recent NMR results on URu2Si2 doped with Rh and find good agreement with the data.

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Maria E. Pezzoli, Matthias J. Graf, Kristjan Haule, Gabriel Kotliar, Alexander V. Balatsky. 2010-12-15. Local suppression of the hidden order phase by impurities in URu2Si2. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.83.235106

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