Evolution of spin freezing transition and structural, magnetic phase diagram of Dy $$_{2-\textit{x}}$$ 2 - x La $$_\textit{x}$$ x Zr $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{7}$$ 7 (0 $$\le$$ ≤ $$\textit{x}$$ x $$\le$$ ≤ 2.0)

Abstract

Abstract Dy $$_{2}$$ 2 Zr $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{7}$$ 7 a disordered pyrochlore system, exhibits the spin freezing behavior under the application of the magnetic field. We have performed detailed magnetic studies of Dy $$_{2-\textit{x}}$$ 2 - x La $$_\textit{x}$$ x Zr $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{7}$$ 7 to understand the evolution of the magnetic spin freezing in the system. Our studies suggest the stabilization of the pyrochlore phase with the substitution of non-magnetic La along with the biphasic mixture of fluorite and pyrochlore phases for the intermediate compositions. We observed that the spin freezing (T $$_{f}$$ f $$\sim$$ ∼ 17 K) at higher La compositions (1.5 $$\le$$ ≤ $$\textit{x}$$ x $$\le$$ ≤ 1.99) is similar to the field-induced spin freezing for low La compositions (0 $$\le$$ ≤ $$\textit{x}$$ x $$\le$$ ≤ 0.5) and the well-known spin ice systems Dy $$_{2}$$ 2 Ti $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{7}$$ 7 and Ho $$_{2}$$ 2 Ti $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{7}$$ 7 . The low-temperature magnetic state for higher La compositions (1.5 $$\le$$ ≤ $$\textit{x}$$ x $$\le$$ ≤ 1.99) culminates into a spin-glass like state below 6 K. Cole–Cole plot and Casimir-du Pr $$\acute{e}$$ e ´ fit shows the narrow distribution of spin relaxation time in these compounds.