arXiv subjects

O. A. Petrenko

Publications and source records attributed to O. A. Petrenko.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Suppression of 3D-ordering by defects in the $S=1/2$ frustrated chain magnet LiCuVO$_4$

We report on a heat capacity study of high quality single crystal samples of \lcvo\ -- a frustrated spin $S=1/2$ chain system -- in magnetic field amounting to 3/4 of the saturation field. At low fields up to about 7~T, a linear temperature dependence of the specific heat, $C_p\propto T$, resulting from 1D magnetic correlations in the spin chains is followed upon cooling by a sharp lambda anomaly of the transition into a 3D helical phase with $C_p\propto T^3$ behavior at low temperature. The transition from a spin liquid into a spin-modulated (SM) phase at higher fields occurs via a hump-like anomaly which, as the temperature decreases further turns into a $C_p\propto T^2$ law distinctive for a quasi-2D system. We suggest an explanation for how nonmagnetic defects in the Cu$^{2+}$ chains can suppress 3D long-range ordering in the SM phase and leave it undisturbed in a helical phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Dispersionless spin waves in Gadolinium Gallium Garnet

We report the results of neutron scattering on a powder sample of Gd3Ga5O12 at high magnetic fields. We find that in high fields (B>1.8 T) the system is not fully polarized, but has a small canting of the moments induced by the dipolar interaction. We show that the degree of canting is accurately predicted by the standard Hamiltonian which includes the dipolar interaction. The inelastic scattering is dominated at large momentum transfers by a band of almost dispersionless excitations. We show that these correspond to the spin waves localized on ten site rings, expected for a system described by a nearest neighbor interaction, and that the spectrum at high fields B>1.8 T is well-described by a spin wave theory. The phase for fields <1.8 T is characterized by an antiferromagnetic Bragg peak at (210) and an incommensurate peak.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Ultrasonic investigations of spin-ices Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ and Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ in and out of equilibrium

We report ultrasound studies of spin-lattice and single-ion effects in the spin-ice materials Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ (DTO) and Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ (HTO) across a broad field range up to 60 T, covering phase transformations, interactions with low-energy magnetic excitations, as well as single-ion effects. In particular, a sharp dip observed in the sound attenuation in DTO at the gas-liquid transition of the magnetic monopoles is explained based on an approach involving negative relaxation processes. Furthermore, quasi-periodic peaks in the acoustic properties of DTO due to non-equilibrium processes are found to be strongly affected by {\em macroscopic} thermal-coupling conditions: the thermal runaway observed in previous studies in DTO can be suppressed altogether by immersing the sample in liquid helium. Crystal-electric-field effects having higher energy scale lead to a renormalization of the sound velocity and sound attenuation at very high magnetic fields. We analyze our observations using an approach based on an analysis of exchange-striction couplings and single-ion effects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Magnetic properties of geometrically frustrated SrGd2O4

A study of the magnetic properties of the frustrated rare earth oxide SrGd2O4 has been completed using bulk property measurements of magnetization, susceptibility and specific heat on single crystal samples. Two zero-field phase transitions have been identified at 2.73 and 0.48 K. For the field, H, applied along the a and b axes, a single boundary is identified that delineates the transition from a low field, low temperature magnetically ordered regime to a high field, high temperature paramagnetic phase. Several field-induced transitions, however, have been observed with H || c. The measurements have been used to map out the magnetic phase diagram of SrGd2O4, suggesting that it is a complex system with several competing magnetic interactions. The low-temperature magnetic behavior of SrGd2O4 is very different compared to the other SrLn2O4 (Ln = Lanthanide) compounds, even though all of the SrLn2O4 compounds are isostructural, with the magnetic ions forming a low-dimensional lattice of zigzag chains that run along the c axis. The differences are likely to be due to the fact that in the ground state Gd3+ has zero orbital angular momentum and therefore the spin-orbit interactions, which are crucial for other SrLn2O4 compounds, can largely be neglected. Instead, given the relatively short Gd3+-Gd3+ distances in SrGd2O4, dipolar interactions must be taken into account for this antiferromagnet alongside the Heisenberg exchange terms.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Single Crystals of the Geometrically Frustrated Zirconium Pyrochlore, Pr2Zr2O7

We report the growth of large high quality crystals of the frustrated magnet, Pr2Zr2O7 by the floating zone technique. Several crystals have been produced starting with varying levels of excess of Pr6O11 to compensate for the loss of Pr2O3 during the growth process. X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystals shows that the Pr composition in our crystals, as determined by the Pr site occupancy in the pyrochlore structure, is always slightly less than 1. Fits to the magnetic sus-ceptibility data below 10 K using a Curie-Weiss law reveal an antiferromagnetic coupling between the Pr moments, with an estimated Weiss temperature of ΘW = -2.5 K and an effective moment for the Pr3+ of μeff = 2.5 μB. Magnetization versus field measurements show a spin-ice like anisotropy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Low-temperature magnetism in the honeycomb systems SrLn2O4

Recent progress in the understanding of the complex magnetic properties of the family of rare-earth strontium oxides, SrLn2O4, is reviewed. These compounds consisting of hexagons and triangles are affected by geometrical frustration and therefore exhibit its characteristic features, such as a significant reduction of magnetic ordering temperatures and complex phase diagrams in an applied field. Some of the observed features appear to be rather remarkable even in the context of the unusual behavior associated with geometrically frustrated magnetic systems. Of particular interest is the coexistence at the lowest temperature of different magnetic structures (exhibiting either long or short-range order) characterized by different propagation vectors in materials without significant chemical or structural disorder.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Low-temperature magnetisation process in the cubic pyrochlore quantum antiferromagnet, Er2Ti2O7

We report low-temperature susceptibility and magnetisation data for the cubic pyrochlore Er2Ti2O7. By performing the measurements on single crystals we are able to establish the degree of magnetic anisotropy present in this compound and to determine the critical values for magnetic field induced transitions below the magnetic ordering temperature of 1.2 K. We also present a magnetic H-T phase diagram of this quantum XY antiferromagnet for different directions of an applied field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Highly frustrated magnetism in SrHo2O4: Coexistence of two types of short-range order

SrHo2O4 is a geometrically frustrated magnet in which the magnetic Ho3+ ions form honeycomb layers connected through a network of zigzag chains. At low-temperature two distinct types of short-range magnetic order can be inferred from single crystal diffraction data, collected using both polarized and unpolarized neutrons. In the (hk0) plane the diffuse scattering is most noticeable around the k = 0 positions and its intensity rapidly increases at temperatures below 0.7 K. In addition, planes of diffuse scattering at Q = (hk +/- l/2) are visible at temperatures as high as 4.5 K. These planes coexist with the broad peaks of diffuse scattering in the (hk0) plane at low-temperatures. Correlation lengths associated with the broad peaks are L ~ 150 Å in the a-b plane and L ~ 190 Å along c axis, while the correlation length associated with the diffuse scattering planes is L ~ 230 Å along the c axis at the lowest temperature. Both types of diffuse scattering are elastic in nature. The highly unusual coexistance of the two types of diffuse scattering in SrHo2O4 is likely to be the result of the presence of two crystallographically inequivalent sites for Ho3+ in the unit cell.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Juxtaposition of Spin Freezing and Long Range Order in a Series of Geometrically Frustrated Antiferromagnetic Gadolinium Garnets

Specific heat measurements in zero magnetic field are presented on a homologous series of geometrically frustrated, antiferromagnetic, Heisenberg garnet systems. Measurements of Gd3Ga5O12, grown with isotopically pure Gd, agree well with previous results on samples with naturally abundant Gd, showing no ordering features. In contrast, samples of Gd3Te2Li3O12 and Gd3Al5O12 are found to exhibit clear ordering transitions at 243 mK and 175 mK respectively. The effects of low level disorder are studied through dilution of Gd3+ with non-magnetic Y3+ in Gd3Te2Li3O12. A thorough structural characterization, using X-ray diffraction, is performed on all of the samples studied. We discuss possible explanations for such diverse behavior in very similar systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2012

Novel magnetic phases in a Gd2Ti2O7 pyrochlore for a field applied along the [100] axis

We report on longitudinal and transverse magnetisation measurements performed on single crystal samples of Gd2Ti2O7 for a magnetic field applied along the [100] direction. The measurements reveal the presence of previously unreported phases in fields below 10 kOe in an addition to the higher-field-induced phases that are also seen for H//[111], [110], and [112]. The proposed H-T phase diagram for the [100] direction looks distinctly different from all the other directions studied previously.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Intrinsic and extrinsic nonstationary field-driven processes in the spin-ice compound Dy2Ti2O7

Nonequilibrium processes are probed by ultrasound waves in the spin-ice material Dy2Ti2O7 at low temperatures. The sound velocity and the sound attenuation exhibit a number of anomalies versus applied magnetic field for temperatures below the "freezing" temperature of ~500 mK. These robust anomalies can be seen for longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes for different field directions. The anomalies show a broad hysteresis. Most notable are peaks in the sound velocity, which exhibit two distinct regimes: an intrinsic (extrinsic) one in which the data collapse for different sweep rates when plotted as function of field strength (time). We discuss our observations in context of the emergent quasiparticles which govern the low-temperature dynamics of the spin ice.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Coexistence of the long-range and short-range magnetic order components in SrEr$_2$O$_4$

Single crystal neutron diffraction reveals two distinct components to the magnetic ordering in geometrically frustrated SrEr$_2$O$_4$. One component is a long-range ordered ${\bf k}=0$ structure which appears below $T_N = 0.75$ K. Another component is a short-range incommensurate structure which manifests itself by the presence of a strong diffuse scattering signal. On cooling from higher temperatures down to 0.06 K, the partially ordered component does not undergo a pronounced phase transition. The magnetic moments in the long-range commensurate and short-range incommensurate structures are predominantly pointing along the [001] and [100] axes respectively. The unusual coexistence of two magnetic structures is probed using both unpolarised and XYZ-polarised neutron scattering techniques. The observed diffuse scattering pattern can be satisfactorily reproduced with a classical Monte Carlo simulation by using a simple model based on a ladder of triangles.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Slow Magnetic Order-Order Transition in the Spin Chain Antiferromagnet Ca3Co2O6

Using powder neutron diffraction we have discovered an unusual magnetic order-order transition in the Ising spin chain compound Ca3Co2O6. On lowering the temperature an antiferromagnetic phase with propagation vector k=(0.5,-0.5,1) emerges from a higher temperature spin density wave structure with k=(0, 0, 1.01). This transition occurs over an unprecedented time-scale of several hours and is never complete.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Titanium pyrochlore magnets: how much can be learned from magnetization measurements?

We report magnetization data for several titanium pyrochlore systems measured down to 0.5 K. The measurements, performed on single crystal samples in fields of up to 7 T, have captured the essential elements of the previously reported phase transitions in these compounds and have also revealed additional important features overlooked previously either because of the insufficiently low temperatures used, or due to limitations imposed by polycrystalline samples. For the spin-ice pyrochlores Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7, an unusually slow relaxation of the magnetization has been observed in lower fields, while the magnetization process in higher fields is essentially hysteresis-free and does not depend on sample history. For the XY pyrochlore Er2Ti2O7, the magnetic susceptibility shows nearly diverging behaviour on approach to a critical field, HC = 13.5 kOe, above which the magnetization does not saturate but continues to grow at a significant rate. For the Heisenberg pyrochlore Gd2Ti2O7, the magnetic susceptibility shows a pronounced change of slope at both transition temperatures, TN1 = 1.02 K and TN2 = 0.74 K, contrary to the earlier reports.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Magnetic excitations in the XY-pyrochlore antiferromagnet Er$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$

The XY-pyrochlore antiferromagnet \ETO\ is studied by heat capacity measurements and electron spin resonance spectroscopy performed on single crystal samples. The magnetic phase diagrams are established for two directions of applied field, $H\parallel [100]$ and $H\parallel [111]$. In the magnetically ordered phase observed below $T_N=1.2$ K, the magnetic excitation spectrum consists of a Goldstone mode acquiring an isotropic gap in an applied field, and another mode with a gap softening in the vicinity of a field-induced phase transition. This second-order transition takes place at a critical field $H_c$ above which the magnetization process is accompanied by a canting of the magnetic moments off their local "easy-planes". The specific heat curves for $H\parallel [100]$ ($H\gg H_c$) are well described by a model presuming a single dispersionless excitation mode with the energy gap obtained from the spectroscopic measurements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Kagome staircase compound Co3V2O8 in an applied magnetic field: single-crystal neutron-diffraction study

The magnetic properties of Co3V2O8 have been studied by single-crystal neutron-diffraction. In zero magnetic field, the observed broadening of the magnetic Bragg peaks suggests the presence of disorder both in the low-temperature ferromagnetic and in the higher-temperature antiferromagnetic state. The field dependence of the intensity and position of the magnetic reflections in Co3V2O8 reveals a complex sequence of phase transitions in this Kagome staircase compound. For H//a, a commensurate-incommensurate-commensurate transition is found in a field of 0.072 T in the antiferromagnetic phase at 7.5 K. For H//c at low-temperature, an applied field induces an unusual transformation from a ferromagnetic to an antiferromagnetic state at about 1 T accompanied by a sharp increase in magnetisation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Spin dynamics in the frustrated three-dimensional hyperkagom{é} compound $Gd_3 Ga_5 O_{12}$

We present the first neutron inelastic scattering results on the low temperature magnetic state of the three dimensional hyperkagomé compound Gd$_{3}$Ga$_{5}$O$_{12}$ (GGG). GGG is often classified as a strongly frustrated system with a manifold of continuously connected states. However, in contrast to the expectation of a continuum of gap-less excitations above a spin liquid-like ground state our results reveal three distinct inelastic modes found at 0.04(1), 0.12(2) an 0.58(3) meV at 0.06 K. The inelastic modes can be attributed to the magnetic ground state with the lowest and highest energy excitations showing spatial dependencies indicative of dimerized short range antiferromagnetic correlations. Short range correlations, reminiscent of spin liquid-like order, are static within the instrumental resolution (50 $μ$eV) and represent 82% of the spectral weight. Longer range correlations, first observed by Petrenko, et al.\cite{Petrenko1998, develop below 0.14 ~K within the elastic cross section. The short range static correlations and dynamic components survive to high temperatures, comparable to the nearest neighbor exchange interactions. Our results suggest that the ground state of a three dimensional hyperkagomé compound differs distinctly from its frustrated counterparts on a pyrochlore lattice and reveals a juxtaposition of spin liquid order and strong dimerised coupling.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Field-driven magnetisation steps in Ca3Co2O6: A single-crystal neutron-diffraction study

We present single-crystal neutron-diffraction data for the spin-chain compound Ca3Co2O6. The intensity and line shapes of the two families of Bragg peaks characterising both the antiferromagnetic and the ferromagnetic components of the magnetic order present in this material have been measured as a function of temperature and applied magnetic fields of up to 5 T. We have studied the microscopic nature of the magnetic order at each step seen in the bulk magnetisation and investigated the evolution of the long and short-range components of the magnetic order in Ca3Co2O6.

cond-mat.str-el↗