Abstract
We present a magnetic phase diagram of rare-earth pyrochlore in a magnetic field. Using heat capacity, magnetization, and neutron scattering data, we show an unusual field dependence of a first-order phase boundary, wherein a small applied field increases the ordering temperature. The zero-field ground state has ferromagnetic domains, while the spins polarize along above 0.65 T. A classical Monte Carlo analysis of published Hamiltonians does account for the critical field in the low limit. However, this analysis fails to account for the large bulge in the reentrant phase diagram, suggesting that either long-range interactions or quantum fluctuations govern low field properties.
- Received 16 March 2017
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.127201
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