Dilatometric Study of LiHoF4 In a Transverse Magnetic Field

TL;DR

This study combines experimental and theoretical approaches to investigate the phase diagram of LiHoF4 in a transverse magnetic field, revealing discrepancies between current theories and observed critical points.

Contribution

It introduces a new capacitive dilatometer to measure thermal expansion and magnetostriction, providing precise data on phase transitions in LiHoF4 in transverse fields.

Findings

Critical points identified from thermal expansion and magnetostriction data.

Good agreement with existing experimental data.

Current theories do not fully capture the physics of LiHoF4 in this regime.

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental work have not provided a consistent picture of the phase diagram of the nearly ideal Ising ferromagnet LiHoF4 in a transverse magnetic field. Using a newly fabricated capacitive dilatometer, we have investigated the thermal expansion and magnetostriction of LiHoF4 in magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the Ising direction. Critical points for the ferromagnetic phase transition have been determined from both methods in the classical paramagnetic to ferromagnetic regime. Excellent agreement has been found with existing experimental data suggesting that, in this regime, the current theoretical calculations have not entirely captured the physics of this interesting model system.