Quantum Fluctuations in Spin-Ice-Like Pr$_2$Zr$_2$O$_7$

ORAL

Abstract

We report the experimental evidence of spin-ice-like correlation and quantum fluctuation in the rare earth pyrochlore Pr$_{2}$Zr$_{2}$O$_{7}$. Low temperature magnetization together with high energy inelastic neutron scattering spectrum reveal the single ion crystal field ground state of Pr$^{3+}$ is a non-Krammer's doublet with local \textless 111\textgreater\ anisotropy. Heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility data show no evidence of long range ordering down to 50 mk. The magnetic interaction energy scale is estimated from AC magnetic susceptibility data where an activation energy gap of 1.6 K is extracted from T-dependent relaxation time. The wave vector dependence of quasi-elastic neutron scattering at 0.1 K resembles that of exchange spin ice, including well-defined pinch points. This indicates the 2-in 2-out ice rule is satisfied over the time scale set by the instrumental energy resolution. In contrast, inelastic scattering with energy transfer of 0.25 meV does not show pinch pints, which suggests these fluctuations break the ice rule. The spectral weight of the elastic scattering accounts for less than 10{\%} of the total scattering from the ground state doublet, providing evidence for the strong quantum fluctuation.

–

Authors

  • Jiajia Wen

    Johns Hopkins University, IQM, JHU, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

  • Kenta Kimura

    ISSP, University of Tokyo, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan

  • Satoru Nakatsuji

    ISSP, University of Tokyo, University of Tokyo, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo

  • Collin Broholm

    Johns Hopkins University / NIST NCNR, Institute for Quantum Matter and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, IQM, JHU; NCNR, NIST; Neutron Science Directorate, ORNL, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218 MD USA, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

  • Matthew B. Stone

    Neutron Science Directorate, ORNL, NSSD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA

  • Eiji Nishibori

    Dept of Applied Physics, Nagoya University

  • Hiroshi Sawa

    Dept of Applied Physics, Nagoya University