Partial magnetization plateau emerging from a quantum spin ice state in Tb2Ti2O7

TL;DR

This study confirms that Tb2Ti2O7 exhibits a partial magnetization plateau under a magnetic field along [111], supporting the quantum spin ice model with specific exchange interactions.

Contribution

The paper provides experimental evidence for a partial magnetization plateau in Tb2Ti2O7, validating the quantum spin ice model predictions through susceptibility and muon-spin relaxation measurements.

Findings

Features at 15 and 65 mT match predicted plateau boundaries

Tb2Ti2O7 is well described by a quantum spin ice model

Effective exchange constant is determined as 0.17 K

Abstract

The quantum spin ice model applied to Tb2Ti2O7 predicts that magnetic fields applied along the [111] axis will induce a partial magnetization plateau [H. R. Molavian and M. J. P. Gingras, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21, 172201 (2009)]. We test this hypothesis using ac magnetic susceptibility and muon-spin relaxation measurements, finding features at 15 and 65 mT agreeing with the predicted boundaries of the magnetization plateau. This suggests that Tb2Ti2O7 is well described by a quantum spin ice model with an effective exchange constant of Jeff = 0.17(1) K.