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Field-induced magnetization distribution and antiferroquadrupolar order in CeB(6)
A Schenck1, F N Gygax, S Kunii
1Institute for Particle Physics of ETH Zürich, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|July 30, 2002
Summary
The study reveals that magnetization in CeB6 is not confined to cerium sites but also exists near boron molecules. This additional magnetization changes its alignment relative to cerium moments below the antiferroquadrupolar ordering temperature.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Cerium hexaboride (CeB6) exhibits complex magnetic and electronic properties.
- Understanding the spatial distribution of magnetism is crucial for characterizing CeB6.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anisotropic Knight shift of positive muons (µ+) in CeB6.
- To determine the spatial distribution of field-induced magnetization in CeB6.
Main Methods:
- Muon spin rotation spectroscopy (µSR) was employed to probe the local magnetic fields.
- Measurements were conducted at temperatures ranging from 2.2 K to 200 K in a 0.6 T magnetic field.
Main Results:
- The Knight shift measurements indicate magnetization is present at both Ce sites and other regions within the unit cell, potentially near or within the B6 molecule.
- Above the antiferroquadrupolar ordering temperature (T(Q) ≈ 3.55 K), this additional magnetization is antiparallel to the Ce moments.
- Below T(Q), the additional magnetization reorients to become parallel to the Ce moments.
Conclusions:
- The findings support models suggesting magnetization extends beyond Ce sites in CeB6.
- The temperature-dependent reorientation of magnetization highlights the interplay between quadrupolar ordering and magnetic interactions.