Chemical composition induced quantum phase transition in ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{1-x}{\mathrm{Rb}}_x{\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$

Journal Article · 17 June 2019 · Physical Review B

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.99.224420 · OSTI ID:1528686

Hayashida, S. ^[1]; Stoppel, L. ^[1]; Yan, Z. ^[1]; Gvasaliya, S. ^[1]; Podlesnyak, Andrey A.  ^[2]; Zheludev, A. ^[1]

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1. ETH Zürich (Switzerland)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Here, the isostructural series of S=1 quantum magnets Cs_1-xRb_xFeCl₃ is investigated, using both thermodynamic measurements and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. It is found that with increasing Rb content the system evolves from the gapped state at x=0, through a quantum phase transition at x∼0.35, and to the magnetically ordered state at larger x. Inelastic neutron experiments for x=0, x=0.3, and x=1 demonstrate that the magnetic anisotropy and spin interactions are continuously tuned by the chemical composition. Finally, for the intermediate concentration all magnetic excitations are substantially broadened suggesting that disorder plays a key role in this species. For the two end compounds, excitations remain sharp.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1528686
• Journal Information: Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 99; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English