Spin-strain coupling in NiCl2-4SC(NH2)2

We report results of ultrasonic investigations of the quantum S = 1 spin-chain magnet NiCl2-4SC(NH2)2, also known as DTN, in magnetic fields up to 18 T and temperatures down to 0.3 K. A field H along the [001] direction induces a transition into an antiferromagnetic phase with T(N)max ≈ 1.2 K. Accordingly, at T = 0 there are two quantum critical points at ~2.1 T and at ~12.6 T. The acoustic c33 mode, propagating along the spin chains, shows a pronounced softening close to the phase transition, accompanied by energy dissipation of the sound wave. The H-T phase diagram obtained from our measurements is compared with results from other experimental investigations and the low-temperature acoustic anomalies are traced up to T > T(N). We also report frequency-dependent effects, which open the possibility to investigate the spin fluctuations in the critical regions. Our observations show an important role of the spin-phonon coupling in DTN

Interplay of quantum and classical fluctuations near quantum critical points

For a system near a quantum critical point (QCP), above its lower critical dimension $d_L$, there is in general a critical line of second order phase transitions that separates the broken symmetry phase at finite temperatures from the disordered phase. The phase transitions along this line are governed by thermal critical exponents that are different from those associated with the quantum critical point. We point out that, if the effective dimension of the QCP, $d_{eff}=d+z$ ($d$ is the Euclidean dimension of the system and $z$ the dynamic quantum critical exponent) is above its upper critical dimension $d_C$, there is an intermingle of classical (thermal) and quantum critical fluctuations near the QCP. This is due to the breakdown of the generalized scaling relation $\psi=\nu z$ between the shift exponent $\psi$ of the critical line and the crossover exponent $\nu z$, for $d+z>d_C$ by a \textit{dangerous irrelevant interaction}. This phenomenon has clear experimental consequences, like the suppression of the amplitude of classical critical fluctuations near the line of finite temperature phase transitions as the critical temperature is reduced approaching the QCP.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Brazilian Journal of Physic

Bose-Einstein Condensation in Magnetic Insulators

The elementary excitations in antiferromagnets are magnons, quasiparticles with integer spin and Bose statistics. In an experiment their density is controlled efficiently by an applied magnetic field and can be made finite to cause the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Studies of magnon condensation in a growing number of magnetic materials provide a unique window into an exciting world of quantum phase transitions (QPT) and exotic quantum states.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Ag(nic)2 (nic = nicotinate): a spin-canted quasi-2D antiferromagnet composed of square-planar S = 1/2 Ag(II) ions.

Square-planar S = 1/2 Ag(II) ions in polymeric Ag(nic)(2) are linked by bridging nic monoanions to yield 2D corrugated sheets. Long-range magnetic order occurs below T(N) = 11.8(2) K due to interlayer couplings that are estimated to be about 30 times weaker than the intralayer exchange interaction

Neutron study of the magnetism in NiCl2•4SC(NH2)2

We study the strongly anisotropic quasi-one-dimensional S = 1 quantum magnet NiCl2 center dot 4SC(NH2)(2) using elastic and inelastic neutron scattering. We demonstrate that a magnetic field splits the excited doublet state and drives the lower doublet state to zero energy at a critical field H-c1. For H-c1 H-c2, and we demonstrate the presence of an AF interaction between Ni2+ on the two interpenetrating sublattices. In the antiferromagnetically ordered phase, the spin-waves that develop from the lower-energy doublet are split into two modes. This is most likely the result of the presence of the AF interaction between the interpenetrating lattices.© 2013 IOP Publishing LTD

Stress-Induced Domain Wall Motion in a Ferroelastic Mn³⁺ Spin Crossover Complex

Domain wall motion is detected for the first time during the transition to a ferroelastic and spin‐state ordered phase of a spin crossover complex. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction and resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) revealed two distinct symmetry‐breaking phase transitions in the mononuclear Mn 3+ compound [Mn(3,5‐diBr‐sal 2 (323))]BPh 4 , 1. The first at 250 K, involves the space group change Cc → Pc and is thermodynamically continuous, while the second, Pc → P1 at 85 K, is discontinuous and related to spin crossover and spin‐state ordering. Stress‐induced domain wall mobility was detected as softening of the phonon modes at the Pc → P1 transition