Quantum Phase Transitions in a Quasi-One-Dimensional Ising Quantum Magnet in Transverse Fields

Published

April 15, 2021

Author(s)

Xiaowen Zhang, Zheng He, Yiqing Hao, Yao Shen, Shoudong Shen, Yu Feng, Guangyong Xu, Nicholas Butch, Goran J. Nilsen, Wenbin Wang, Jun Zhao

Abstract

We report neutron scattering and thermodynamic measurements of the quasi-one-dimensional Ising magnet SrCo₂V₂O₈ under transverse fields along the tetragonal a/b direction. Our experiments reveal a Neel-type magnetic order in zero field, which successively changes in an unconventional manner in applied fields. The detailed evolution of the non-collinear magnetic order in magnetic fields can be understood by considering the competition between the intrinsic magnetic interactions, uniform transverse field, and effective staggered field. Moreover, a series of gapped discrete confined-spinon modes are observed in zero field. With increasing field, the spin gap progressively softens, reaching a minimum value at 7 T where the Neel-type magnetic ordering moment is completely suppressed. This corresponds to the three-dimensional (3D) quantum critical point (QCP). In magnetic fields below the critical point of 7 T, the discrete modes evolve in a similar manner as that of the sister compound BaCo₂V₂O₈ where possible E₈ excitations were recently reported. The implications for multiple QCPs in this class of material are discussed.

Citation

Physical Review B

Volume

103

Issue

14

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

quantum magnet, neutron scattering, quasi-one-dimensional

Citation

Zhang, X. , He, Z. , Hao, Y. , Shen, Y. , Shen, S. , Feng, Y. , Xu, G. , Butch, N. , Nilsen, G. , Wang, W. and Zhao, J. (2021), Quantum Phase Transitions in a Quasi-One-Dimensional Ising Quantum Magnet in Transverse Fields, Physical Review B (Accessed January 18, 2025)