Exploring Novel Antiferromagnets at High Magnetic Fields and Ultrafast Time Scales

This study explores a novel class of compounds with general composition R₂RnIn₈ (where R = rare earth = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Gd) provide another possibility of tuning the system towards quantum criticality due to their layered structure. Data on the crystal Ho₂RhIn₈, which exhibits antiferromagnet ordering below its Néel temperature (T_N) of 10.9 K will be presented. The material approaches its intermediate magnetic phase when the induced magnetic field is 2.5 T. Once the field is increased to 6 T, ferromagnetic ordering results. The experiment demonstrates the first signs of light-induced magnetization when driving the crystal at a phase boundary between its two antiferromagnetic phases.