Lattice effects and entropy release at the low-temperature phase transition in the spin-liquid candidate $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$Cu$_{2}$(CN)$_{3}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the low-temperature phase transition in the spin-liquid candidate $ppa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$Cu$_{2}$(CN)$_{3}$, revealing lattice effects, entropy changes, and questioning the sole role of spin degrees of freedom in the transition.

Contribution

The paper provides detailed measurements of lattice, heat, and magnetic properties at 6 K, identifying a second-order phase transition with anisotropic lattice effects and analyzing the entropy release.

Findings

Anisotropic lattice effects at 6 K indicate a second-order phase transition.

Entropy analysis suggests spin degrees of freedom alone are insufficient to explain the transition.

Charge degrees of freedom may play a significant role in the phase transition.

Abstract

The spin-liquid candidate $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$Cu$_{2}$(CN)$_{3}$ has been studied by measuring the uniaxial expansion coefficients $\alpha_{i}$, the specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility. Special emphasis was placed on the mysterious anomaly around 6 K - a potential spin-liquid instability. Distinct and strongly anisotropic lattice effects have been observed at 6 K, clearly identifying this feature as a second-order phase transition. Owing to the large anomalies in $\alpha_{i}$, the application of Gr\"{u}neisen scaling has enabled us to determine the corresponding specific heat contribution and the entropy release. Comparison of the latter with available spin models suggests that spin degrees of freedom alone cannot account for the phase transition. Scenarios, involving charge degrees of freedom, are discussed. charge degrees of freedom, are discussed.