Magnetic Order in the Pyrochlore Iridates A2Ir2O7 (A = Y, Yb)

• Main Authors: Disseler, S. M, Dhital, Chetan, Amato, A, Giblin, S. R, de la Cruz, Clarina, Wilson, Stephen D, Graf, M. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 29-03-2012
• Subjects: Physics - Strongly Correlated Electrons
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1203.6669

Phys. Rev. B 86, 014428 (2012) We present results from muon spin relaxation/rotation, magnetization, neutron
scattering and transport measurements on polycrystalline samples of the
pyrochlore iridates Y2Ir2O7 (Y-227) and Yb2Ir2O7 (Yb-227). Well-defined
spontaneous oscillations of the muon asymmetry are observed together with
hysteretic behavior in magnetization below 130 K in Yb-227, indicative of
commensurate long-range magnetic order. Similar oscillations are observed in
Y-227 below 150 K; however the onset of hysteretic magnetization at T = 190 K
indicates a transition to an intermediate state lacking long-range order as
observed in Nd-227. Our results also show that insulating members of the
iridate family have nearly identical magnetic ground states, and that the
presence of magnetic A-site species does not play any significant role in
altering the ground state properties.