Ferromagnetic ordered phase of quantum spin ice system Yb2Ti2O7 under [001] magnetic field

Abstract

Measurements of magnetization (M) and specific heat (C) under a [001] magnetic field were carried out on a single crystal of a quantum spin ice system Yb2Ti2O7 in order to investigate a feature of the transition occurred at TC ∼ 0.2 K. As a result of applying the magnetic field μ0H < 0.1 T, the C/T − T curve structure and transition temperature barely changed. On the other hand, applying the more than 0.1 T magnetic field, the C/T − T curve structure drastically change from sharp peak structure to broad peak one, and the broad peak temperature of C/T − T curves linearly increases with increasing magnetic field (H). In the magnetic field μ0H < 0.1 T, the magnetization drastically increases around TC ∼ 0.2 K with decreasing T, and a thermal hysteresis loop of the M − T curve is observed. With increasing H, the thermal hysteresis loop of the M − T curves disappears above μ0HC = 0.1 T. We can understand these results, where Yb2Ti2O7 exhibits a first-order ferromagnetic transition associated with the latent heat corresponding to the energy of μ0HC = 0.1 T. Basis of the H − T phase diagram along [001] magnetic field, the feature of the transition occurred at TC ∼ 0.2 K in quantum spin ice system Yb2Ti2O7 is discussed.