Low-temperature specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and zero-field muon spin resonance (mu SR) measurements have been performed in the quasi-one-dimensional molecular helimagnetic compound Gd(hfac)(3)NITEt. The specific heat presents two anomalies at T(0)=2.19 +/- 0.02 K and T(N)=1.88 +/- 0.02 K, which both disappear upon the application of a weak magnetic field. Conversely, magnetic susceptibility and mu SR data show the divergence of two-spin correlation functions only at T(N)=1.88 +/- 0.02 K. These results suggest an experimental validation of Villain's conjecture of a two-step magnetic ordering in quasi-one-dimensional XY helimagnets; i.e., the paramagnetic phase and the helical spin solid phase are separated by a chiral spin liquid phase, where translational invariance is broken without violation of rotational invariance.
Two-step magnetic ordering in quasi-one-dimensional helimagnets : possible experimental validation of Villain's conjecture about a chiral spin liquid phase / F. Cinti, A. Rettori, M.G. Pini, M. Mariani, E. Micotti, A. Lascialfari, N. Papinutto, A. Amato, A. Caneschi, D. Gatteschi, M. Affronte. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 100:5(2008), pp. 057203.057203-1-057203.057203-4. [10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.057203]
Two-step magnetic ordering in quasi-one-dimensional helimagnets : possible experimental validation of Villain's conjecture about a chiral spin liquid phase
A. Lascialfari;
2008
Abstract
Low-temperature specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and zero-field muon spin resonance (mu SR) measurements have been performed in the quasi-one-dimensional molecular helimagnetic compound Gd(hfac)(3)NITEt. The specific heat presents two anomalies at T(0)=2.19 +/- 0.02 K and T(N)=1.88 +/- 0.02 K, which both disappear upon the application of a weak magnetic field. Conversely, magnetic susceptibility and mu SR data show the divergence of two-spin correlation functions only at T(N)=1.88 +/- 0.02 K. These results suggest an experimental validation of Villain's conjecture of a two-step magnetic ordering in quasi-one-dimensional XY helimagnets; i.e., the paramagnetic phase and the helical spin solid phase are separated by a chiral spin liquid phase, where translational invariance is broken without violation of rotational invariance.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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