Investigation of quantum criticality in α-RuCl<sub>3</sub> by means of dilatometry

POSTER

Abstract

The quantum spin liquid candidate α-RuCl3 shows field-induced quantum criticality around μ0Hc~7-8 T, where the antiferromagnetic zigzag phase is suppressed [1,2]. Such behavior can be studied via the characteristic divergence in the temperature and field dependence of the Grüneisen parameter [3].
Here, we present high-resolution thermal expansion α, magnetostriction λ, and specific-heat (Cp) measurements, performed on single crystals of α-RuCl3. The length changes were measured parallel to the c axis stacking direction for magnetic field perpendicular to the c axis up to 15 T. The extracted Grüneisen parameter G= α/Cp shows typical hallmarks for quantum critical behavior, with G diverging in a characteristic manner at μ0Hc = 7.8(1) T. Furthermore, our thermodynamic investigations show clear evidence for the existence of three different low-temperature phases in the examined field range in line with recent magnetocaloric and neutron diffraction measurements [4]. We present calculations for thermal expansion and Grüneisen parameter in a minimal lattice model.

[1] R. D. Johnson et. al., PRB 92, 235119 (2015)
[2] A. U. B. Wolter et. al., PRB 96, 041405(R) (2017)
[3] Markus Garst and Achim Rosch, PRB 72, 205129 (2005)
[4] Christian Balz et al., Phys. Rev. B 100, 060405(R) (2019)

Presenters

  • Vilmos Kocsis

    • RIKEN
    • Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Japan
    • Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden
    • RIKEN CEMS

Authors

  • Anja Wolter

    • Inst for Festkorper Werkstoffforschung
    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Sebastian Gass

    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Laura T. Corredor

    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

  • Vilmos Kocsis

    • RIKEN
    • Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN, Japan
    • Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden
    • RIKEN CEMS

  • Lukas Janssen

    • TU Dresden
    • Physics, Technische Universitaet Dresden
    • Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technical University of Dresden

  • Matthias Vojta

    • TU Dresden
    • Physics, Technische Universitaet Dresden
    • Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technical University of Dresden

  • Paula J Kelley

    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Stephen E Nagler

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • David Mandrus

    • Physics, University of Tennessee
    • Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee
    • Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • The University of Tennesse, Knoxville
    • University of Tennessee
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee
    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Bernd Buechner

    • Leibniz IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstr. 20, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
    • Inst for Festkorper Werkstoffforschung
    • IFW Dresden
    • Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden
    • IFW - Dresden