Magnetic Blue Phase in the Chiral Itinerant Magnet MnSi

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence of a magnetic blue phase in MnSi, a chiral itinerant magnet, explaining several previously puzzling experimental observations through combined theoretical and neutron-scattering studies.

Contribution

It introduces the magnetic blue phase in MnSi as a new phase, linking it to phenomena like partial magnetic order and thermodynamic anomalies.

Findings

Magnetic blue phase exists in MnSi's phase diagram.

Explains partial magnetic order in MnSi.

Accounts for specific-heat and thermal-expansion anomalies.

Abstract

Chiral nematic liquid crystals sometimes form blue phases characterized by spirals twisting in different directions. By combining model calculations with neutron-scattering experiments, we show that the magnetic analogue of blue phases does form in the chiral itinerant magnet MnSi in a large part of the phase diagram. The properties of this blue phase explain a number of previously reported puzzling features of MnSi such as partial magnetic order and a two-component specific-heat and thermal-expansion anomaly at the magnetic transition.