Study of the electronic nematic phase of Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ with precise control of the applied magnetic field vector

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic nematic phase of Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ by precisely controlling magnetic field orientation, revealing complex phase behavior and high-temperature anisotropy linked to quantum critical fluctuations.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of resistivity anisotropy under controlled magnetic field directions, uncovering new aspects of the phase diagram of Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$.

Findings

High-temperature anisotropy mimics quantum critical fluctuations

Evidence of a more complex phase diagram than previously known

Precise control of magnetic field direction influences nematic phase behavior

Abstract

We report a study of the magnetoresistivity of high purity Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$, in the vicinity of its electronic nematic phase. By employing a triple-axis (9/1/1T) vector magnet, we were able to precisely tune both the magnitude and direction of the in-plane component of the magnetic field (H$_\parallel$). We report the dependence of the resistively determined anisotropy on H$_\parallel$ in the phase, as well as across the wider temperature-field region. Our measurements reveal a high-temperature anisotropy which mimics the behaviour of fluctuations from the underlying quantum critical point, and suggest the existence of a more complicated phase diagram than previously reported.