Hidden magnetic frustration by quantum relaxation in anisotropic Nd langasite.
The static and dynamic magnetic properties of the Nd(3)Ga(5)SiO(14) compound, which appears as the first materialization of a rare-earth kagome-type lattice, were reexamined, owing to contradictory results in the previous studies. Neutron scattering, magnetization, and specific heat measurements were performed and analyzed, in particular, by fully taking account of the crystal electric field effects on the Nd(3+) ions. One of the novel findings is that the peculiar temperature independent spin dynamics observed below 10 K expresses single-ion quantum processes. This would short-circuit the frustration induced cooperative dynamics, which would emerge only at very low temperature.
Simonet
V
V
Institut Néel, CNRS/UJF, BP 166, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
Ballou
R
R
Robert
J
J
Canals
B
B
Hippert
F
F
Bordet
P
P
Lejay
P
P
Fouquet
P
P
Ollivier
J
J
Braithwaite
D
D