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Field-dependent energy scales in URu(2)Si(2)
P Santini1, G Amoretti, R Caciuffo
1Oxford Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|September 16, 2000
Summary
The characteristic energy scale of URu2Si2 decreases with applied magnetic fields, vanishing around 40 T. Inelastic neutron scattering reveals this scale is unrelated to magnetic fluctuation gaps, indicating two distinct energy scales govern its physics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Materials
- Magnetism
Background:
- Uranium ruthenium silicide (URu2Si2) exhibits complex macroscopic properties at low temperatures.
- A characteristic energy scale, delta(0)(B), is observed, which is sensitive to applied magnetic fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the macroscopic energy scale delta(0)(B) and the microscopic magnetic dynamics in URu2Si2.
- To determine if magnetic fluctuation gaps are responsible for the observed energy scale under applied magnetic fields.
Main Methods:
- Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements were performed on URu2Si2.
- Experiments were conducted in applied magnetic fields along the c-axis, up to 12 Tesla.
Main Results:
- The macroscopic energy scale delta(0)(B) decreases with increasing magnetic field and extrapolates to zero around 40 T.
- INS measurements showed that delta(0)(B) is not directly related to gaps in the magnetic fluctuation spectra.
- Evidence for two distinct energy scales governing the compound's physics was found.
Conclusions:
- The macroscopic energy scale in URu2Si2 is distinct from the energy gaps observed in magnetic fluctuations.
- The findings provide direct evidence for the presence of two independent energy scales in the physics of URu2Si2.