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arXiv · 1012.4672

Symmetry-breaking lattice distortion in Sr_3Ru_2O_7

C. Stingl·R. S. Perry·Y. Maeno·P. Gegenwart
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Abstract

The electronic nematic phase of Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ is investigated by high-resolution in-plane thermal expansion measurements in magnetic fields close to 8 T applied at various angles $Θ$ off the c-axis. At $Θ<10^\circ$ we observe a very small ($10^{-7}$) lattice distortion which breaks the four-fold in-plane symmetry, resulting in nematic domains with interchanged $a$- and b-axis. At $Θ\gtrsim 10^\circ$ the domains are almost fully aligned and thermal expansion indicates an area-preserving lattice distortion of order $2\times 10^{-6}$ which is likely related to orbital ordering. Since the system is located in the immediate vicinity to a metamagnetic quantum critical end point, the results represent the first observation of a structural relaxation driven by quantum criticality.

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C. Stingl, R. S. Perry, Y. Maeno, P. Gegenwart. 2011-06-15. Symmetry-breaking lattice distortion in Sr_3Ru_2O_7. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.107.026404

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