J1−J2 square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnets with 4d1 spins: AMoOPO4Cl (A=K,Rb)

Magnetic properties of AMoOPO4Cl (A=K,Rb) with Mo5+ ions in the 4d1 electronic configuration are investigated by magnetization, heat capacity, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on single crystals, combined with powder neutron diffraction experiments. The magnetization measurements reveal that they are good model compounds for the spin-1/2 J1−J2 square-lattice magnet with the first and second nearest-neighbor interactions. Magnetic transitions are observed at around 6 and 8 K in the K and Rb compounds, respectively. In contrast to the normal Néel-type antiferromagnetic order, the NMR and neutron diffraction experiments find a columnar antiferromagnetic order for each compound, which is stabilized by a dominant antiferromagnetic J2. Both compounds realize the unusual case of two interpenetrating J2 square lattices weakly coupled to each other by J1.

Magnetic properties of the magnetoelectric compound Cu2OSeO3: Magnetization and Se-77 NMR study

Jean-Philippe Ansermet, Helmuth Berger, Simon Granville

We present magnetization and Se-77 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements in single crystals of the magnetoelectric compound Cu2OSeO3. The temperature and field dependence of the magnetization suggest a ferrimagnetic ordering at T-c similar or equal to 60 K in a 3up-1down configuration. The easy axis of the magnetization is along the [100] crystallographic direction. The Se-77 NMR line shape data collected at 14.09 T are consistent with the symmetries imposed by the cubic P2(1)3 space group in the temperature range 20-290 K and confirm that the magnetic transition is not accompanied by any lowering of the crystal symmetry as has recently been proposed by Bos et al. [Phys. Rev. B 78 094416 (2008)].

Iop Publishing Ltd, Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol Bs1 6Be, England2011

Coherence transfer in nuclear magnetic resonance by selective homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn correlation spectroscopy

Geoffrey Bodenhausen, Robert Konrat

New NMR techniques are described for transferring transverse magnetization between scalar-coupled nuclei in the rotating frame. The methods involve simultaneous spin-locking of two selected spins A and X, using cosinusoidal modulation of the radio frequency (rf) carrier. If transverse magnetization of spin A is excited selectively before spin-locking, for example with a self-refocusing 270 Deg Gaussian pulse, in-phase magnetization will be transferred from spin A to spin X, and in-phase multiplets are obtained in both one- and two-dimensional spectra. The method allows one to verify whether two particular spins are connected by a scalar coupling. Examples are shown for peptides and basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). The fine structure of the multiplets yields information on couplings to further spins. In contrast to nonselective spin-lock expts., the magnetization cannot diffuse to a manifold of coupling partners. If relayed coherence transfer is to be achieved deliberately, several spins may be locked simultaneously by imposing an addnl. modulation on the rf carrier. [on SciFinder (R)]

1991

Order and dynamics in Kagome like compound Cu2OSO4 and other quantum magnets

Virgile Yves Favre

This thesis presents results of studies of novel compounds modeling complex fundamental physics phenomena. Cu2OSO4 is a copper based magnetic Mott Insulator system, where spin half magnetic moments form a new type of lattice. These intrinsically quantum pins are exhibiting atypical magnetic order and spin dynamics. The recent success in the growth of large single crystals of Cu2OSO4 enabled to perform measurements probing its static and fluctuating properties. The peculiarity of this sample is that its atoms are forming layers, with a geometry close to the intensively studied Kagomé lattice, but with a third of its spins replaced by dimers. This quantum magnetism system has been probed in its bulk, by the means of heat capacity and DC-susceptibility measurements, revealing a transition to a magnetically long range ordered state upon cooling, the details of which are revealed by neutron scattering. Single crystal inelastic neutron scattering shed light on the spin-dynamics in the system, with clear spin waves appearing as fluctuations around the peculiar ground state of the system: a 120 degrees spin configuration where the magnetic moment of the spin-dimer causes the sample to be globally ferrimagnetic. The presented results indicate that Cu2OSO4 represents a new type of model lattice with frustrated interactions where interplay between magnetic order, thermal and quantum fluctuations can be explored. The magnetic excitations of the compound can be modeled by a yet-to-be-understood internal effective mean-field that no simple magnetic coupling seems to reproduce. K2Ni2(SO4)3 is another compound that allows for the existence of non-trivial topological phases. This thesis presents results of the study of the unusual magnetic behavior of K2Ni2(SO4)3. No clear sign of well-established magnetic long range order has been observed down to dilution temperatures. Neutron scattering reveals the details of the competition between frustration and fluctuations that prevent order from settling in. Low temperature spin excitations take the form of a continuum at 500 mK, but also of broad, energy independent continua at higher temperatures. Bulk and neutron scattering measurements are put in perspective and linked together with a view to building up a better understanding of how quantum spin liquids can be stabilized in general, and in particular in this model compound. Finally, the last contribution of this thesis to the field of condensed matter physics regards the establishment of a state-of-the-art technique to fit heat capacity and unit cell volume of samples to try and make the extraction of magnetic information from specific heat measurements more robust. This newly-developed technique consists in modeling lattice contributions with better accuracy by using data from multiple experimentally accessible quantities to consolidate the fitting scheme. This method has been cautiously applied to several compounds at the forefront of research in experimental physics.

EPFL2021

Order and dynamics in Kagome like compound Cu2OSO4 and other quantum magnets

Virgile Yves Favre

EPFL2021