arXiv · 1704.02784
Magnetic Transitions under Ultrahigh Magnetic Fields of up to 130 T in the Breathing Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet LiInCr4O8
Abstract
The magnetization processes of the spin-3/2 antiferromagnet LiInCr4O8 comprising a "breathing" pyrochlore lattice, which is an alternating array of small and large tetrahedra, are studied under ultrahigh magnetic fields of up to 130 T using state-of-the-art pulsed magnets. A half magnetization plateau is observed above 90 T to 130 T, suggesting that LiInCr4O8 has a strong spin-lattice coupling, similar to conventional chromium spinel oxides. The magnetization of LiGa0.125In0.875Cr4O8, in which the structural and magnetic transitions at low temperatures have been completely suppressed, shows a sudden increase above 13 T, indicating that a spin gap of 2.2 meV exists between a tetramer singlet ground state and an excited state with total spin 1, with the latter being stabilized by the application of a magnetic field. The breathing pyrochlore antiferromagnet is found to be a unique frustrated system with strong spin-lattice coupling and bond alternation.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Yoshihiko Okamoto, Daisuke Nakamura, Atsushi Miyake, Shojiro Takeyama, Masashi Tokunaga, Akira Matsuo, Koichi Kindo, Zenji Hiroi. 2017-04-10. Magnetic Transitions under Ultrahigh Magnetic Fields of up to 130 T in the Breathing Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet LiInCr4O8. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.95.134438
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.