Intrinsic spin-disordered ground state of the Ising garnet Ho 3Ga5O12

H. D. Zhou, C. R. Wiebe, L. Balicas, Y. J. Yo, Y. Qiu, J. R.D. Copley, J. S. Gardner

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14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Motivated by predictions of a spin-ice state on the Ising garnet lattice, we have completed neutron-scattering experiments on single crystals of Ho 3Ga5O12. Our results show that although the Ho3+ spins have Ising-type character with an easy-axis anisotropy, the low-temperature ground state has coexisting long-range- and short-range-ordered spins and is therefore not an ice state. Inelastic neutron-scattering measurements reveal the presence of low-lying crystal-field states that develop a softening at the onset of short-range magnetic ordering. We suggest that the specific tuning of the exchange and dipolar interactions, along with the accessibility of these low-lying excitations, conspire to drive the system to a disordered state.

Original languageEnglish
Article number140406
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume78
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 28 2008
Externally publishedYes

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