Frustrated Magnetism in RE<sub>2</sub>SrAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub> (RE = Gd, Tb, Ho) with a 2D Edge-Sharing-Tetrahedral Lattice

POSTER

Abstract

Single crystals of the refractory aluminate series RE2SrAl2O7 (RE=Gd, Tb, Ho) are grown for the first time using a laser-diode-heated floating zone method. These series belong to the Ruddlesden–Popper phase of general formula SrREnAlnO3n+1 with n=2 [1]. The structure is a periodic stacking of a rock-salt layer and a double perovskite block where rare earth cations are arranged in two square 2D lattices lying on top of each other but shifted by (1/2, 1/2). The two square 2D lattices of the only magnetic ions in these systems, RE3+, can be viewed as a 2D edge-sharing-tetrahedral lattice with nearest-neighbour antiferromagnetic interactions resulting in a 2-in, 2-out spin structure, reminiscent of spin ice. Magnetic measurements do not show magnetic order down to 1.8 K, but the susceptibility indicates competing interactions. The question of magnetic ground state and crystalline anisotropy is further investigated by low temperature µSR and neutron scattering experiments.
[1] I. Zvereva, Y. Smirnov, V. Gusarov, V. Popova, and J. Choisnet, Solid State Sci. 5, 343 (2003).

*The work at Rutgers University was supported by the DOE under Grant No. DOE: DE-FG02-07ER46382.

Presenters

  • Alemayehu Admasu

    • Rutgers University

Authors

  • Alemayehu Admasu

    • Rutgers University

  • Jaewook Kim

    • Rutgers University
    • Physics, Rutgers Univesity
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy , Rutgers University

  • Huibo Cao

    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge Natl Lab
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Stephen Blundell

    • Oxford University
    • Department of Physics, University of Oxford
    • Physics Department, University of Oxford

  • Sang-Wook Cheong

    • Rutgers University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    • Physics, Rutgers University
    • Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
    • Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers Univ.
    • Rutgers Univ
    • Physics, Rutgers Univesity
    • Department of Physics, Rutgers University
    • Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy , Rutgers University