Ultra-robust high-field magnetization plateau and supersolidity in bond-frustrated MnCr ₂ S ₄

Abstract

High magnetic field studies in MnCr2S4 reveal an extended magnetization plateau and the realization of supersolid phase.

Spin-lattice coupling in a ferrimagnetic spinel: Exotic H−T phase diagram of MnCr2S4 up to 110 T

“…1c, we easily identify five distinct steps labeled as H 1 -H 5 , which characterize field-induced transitions. The observation of an extremely robust magnetization plateau between 25 (H 2 ) and 50 T (H 3 ) is consistent with the previous study up to 60 T [15]. From the magnetization plateau at 6 µ B /f.u.…”

“…Some parameters were simultaneously optimized to reproduce the two transitions at T C ≈ 65 K and at T YK ≈ 5 K observed in previous experiments without magnetic field [10,14] (see Appendix A). Our estimates differ only by a few percent Magnetic field (T) 3 from the previous estimates [15], J Mn-Mn = 3.1 K and J Mn-Cr = 3.24 K [31]. In our spin-lattice model, the effective exchange coupling between Mn and Cr spins becomes J Mn-Cr (1 − αρ ij ) ≈ J Mn-Mn around zero magnetic field, which is consistent with the YK model [13].…”

“…Spin-lattice coupling is expected to play an essential role in magnetic properties of MnCr 2 S 4 . The previous ultrasound experiments showed strong anomalies in the velocity of the longitudinal sound waves at H 1 , H 2 , and H 3 [15]. This observation indicates a significant spinlattice coupling in the material.…”

“…between 25 and 50 T was observed. In analogy to the models proposed by Matsuda and Tsuneto [16] and Liu and Fisher [17], Tsurkan et al proposed that the mag-netic orders of the Mn spin below and above the magnetization plateau should be interpreted as spin supersolidlike phases [15].…”

“…The interaction between the Cr spins, J Cr-Cr , is ferromagnetic and much stronger than the other spin interactions, which has been evidenced by two consecutive magnetic phase transitions at T C ≈ 65 K (ferromagnetic order of Cr spins) and at T YK ≈ 5 K (triangular-like magnetic order of Cr and Mn spins) [10,14]. Recent high-field ultrasound and magnetization experiments on MnCr 2 S 4 up to 60 T revealed a complex phase diagram and novel magneto-structural phases [15]. An extremely robust magnetization plateau at 6 µ B /f.u.…”