Crystal-field states of Pr3+ in the candidate quantum spin ice Pr2Sn2O7

Journal article

Neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy has been employed to study the crystal-field splitting of Pr3+ in the pyrochlore stannate Pr 2Sn2O7. The crystal field has been parameterized from a profile fit to the observed neutron spectrum. The single-ion ground state is a well-isolated non-Kramers doublet of Γ3+ symmetry with a large Ising-like anisotropy, χzz/ χ⊥≈60 at 10 K, but with a significant admixture of terms |MJ≠±J, which can give rise to quantum zero-point fluctuations. This magnetic state satisfies the requirements for quantum spin-ice behavior. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Authors: Princep, A; Prabhakaran, D; Boothroyd, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical Review B
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 10
• Publication date: 2013-09-23
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.104421
• EISSN: 1550-235X
• ISSN: 1098-0121
• Language: English