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Frustrated spin correlations in diluted spin ice Ho2−xLaxTi2O7

G Ehlers1, E Mamontov1, M Zamponi1,2, A Faraone3,4, Y Qiu3,4, A L Cornelius5, C H Booth6, K C Kam7, R Le Toquin7, A K Cheetham7 and J S Gardner4,8

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We have studied the evolution of the structural properties as well as the static and dynamic spin correlations of spin ice Ho2Ti2O7, where Ho was partially replaced by non-magnetic La. The crystal structure of diluted samples Ho2−xLaxTi2O7 was characterized by x-ray and neutron diffraction and by Ho LIII-edge and Ti K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. It is found that the pyrochlore structure remains intact until about x = 0.3, but a systematic increase in local disorder with increasing La concentration is observed in the EXAFS data, especially from the Ti K edge.

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering and ac susceptibility measurements show that, in x≤0.4 samples at temperatures above macroscopic freezing, the spin–spin correlations are short ranged and dynamic in nature. The main difference with pure spin ice in the dynamics is the appearance of a second, faster, relaxation process.


PACS

75.25.+z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source x-ray scattering, etc.)

61.66.Fn Inorganic compounds

75.40.Cx Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.)

78.70.Dm X-ray absorption spectra

61.05.fm Neutron diffraction

75.40.Gb Dynamic properties (dynamic susceptibility, spin waves, spin diffusion, dynamic scaling, etc.)

Subjects

Condensed matter: electrical, magnetic and optical

Condensed matter: structural, mechanical & thermal

Dates

Issue 23 (11 June 2008)

Received 5 March 2008, in final form 6 March 2008

Published 30 April 2008



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