• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Static Magnetic Order in Tb2Sn2O7 Revealed by Muon Spin Relaxation with Exterior Muon Implantation

S. R. Giblin, J. D. M. Champion, H. D. Zhou, C. R. Wiebe, J. S. Gardner, I. Terry, S. Calder, T. Fennell, and S. T. Bramwell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 237201 – Published 1 December 2008
Physics logo See Synopsis: Muons put a new spin on ice

Abstract

Tb2Sn2O7 has been proposed as an ordered spin ice, but the precise nature of the low temperature magnetic state remains uncertain. Recent independent muon spin relaxation (μSR) investigations suggest the possibility of exotic ground states with static order precluded on time scales longer than 106s. Here the more conventional hypothesis of canted ferromagnetism is tested by means of μSR with the muons stopped outside the sample, as well as ultralow field bulk magnetization measurements. The field cooled state shows conventional static order, while the zero field cooled state may be interpreted in terms of conventional closed domains. These results rule out purely dynamical ground states and illustrate the value of exterior muon implantation as a complement to the conventional technique.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 16 September 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.237201

©2008 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Muons put a new spin on ice

Published 1 December 2008

An unconventional muon spin rotation experiment can determine if the magnetism in a spin ice is static or dynamic.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

S. R. Giblin1,*, J. D. M. Champion1, H. D. Zhou2, C. R. Wiebe2, J. S. Gardner3, I. Terry4, S. Calder5, T. Fennell5,†, and S. T. Bramwell5

  • 1ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306-4005, USA and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306-4005, USA
  • 3NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6102, USA and Indiana University, 2401 Milo B. Sampson Lane, Bloomington, Indiana 47408-1398, USA
  • 4Physics Department, University of Durham, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
  • 5London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH, United Kingdom

  • *sean.giblin@rl.ac.uk
  • Institut Laue Langevin, BP156 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 23 — 5 December 2008

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×