Yb$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$: a quantum critical point approaching the ferromagnetic ordering from the quantum spin liquid side

ORAL

Abstract

The neutron scattering measurements on pyrochlore Yb$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$ show no long range ordering down to 0.05 K but appearance of diffuse scattering, low energy spin wave excitations, and temperature-independent relaxation time below 2 K, which indicate the system enters a quantum dynamics region with ferromagnetic interactions. The AC susceptibility further shows that Yb$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$ enters a ``spin freezing'' region below 0.14 K. Our results suggest that Yb$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$ sits on a quantum critical point by approaching the ferromagnetic ordering from the spin liquid side.

*This work was supported by NSF (DMR-0084173 and DMR-0454672) and the EIEG program (FSU). The authors are grateful for the local support staff at the NIST Center for Neutron Research.

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Authors

  • Zhiling Dun

    • University of Tennessee

  • Haidong Zhou

    • University of Tennessee, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Dept. of Physics, University of Tennessee

  • Alannah Hallas

    • University of Manitoba

  • Harlyn Silverstein

    • University of Manitoba

  • Yiming Qiu

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, University of Maryland

  • John Copley

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research

  • Jason Gardner

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, Indiana University

  • Eunsang Choi

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University

  • Christopher Wiebe

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg